Going bananas: Songkhla’s top fritter vendor in a slippery situation

[snoop1130]

 

A well-known banana fritter vendor in Songkhla is facing difficulties due to a sharp increase in the price of bananas and a shortage of supply.

 

Sales have dropped, and profits have dwindled, forcing some vendors to raise their prices. However, one vendor decided to keep her prices the same out of concern for her customers.

 

At the entrance to the Songkhla Zoo in Khao Rup Chang, Songkhla City, Arjulee Thawakit and her husband Supavit Thawakit have been selling banana fritters every day from their food cart.

 

The couple, aged 60 and 62 respectively, have built a loyal customer base of both regulars and passersby. They begin selling their banana fritters, sweet potato fritters, and jackfruit fritters from 10am until 2pm, often needing to use a queue system to manage the high demand.

 

Currently, the high price and shortage of bananas are causing significant trouble for vendors. In the past, a bunch of bananas cost between 12 and 15 baht, but now the price has soared to 35 baht per bunch. Usually, the couple would use 45 bunches of bananas and 10 kilogrammes of purple sweet potatoes each day.

 

Due to the current situation, they can only procure 25 bunches of bananas each day. To meet customer demand, they have had to supplement their supply with jackfruit fritters, but still manage to sell out before 2pm, thanks to both regular customers and those passing through Songkhla.

 

Banana fritter recipe

 

For over 20 years, Arjulee has been perfecting her banana fritter recipe, gaining a loyal following. Unlike typical vendors who use frying pans, she opts for aluminium pots, which she believes offer more consistent heat, ensuring the fritters cook evenly and become perfectly crispy. This unique frying method has set her apart from other vendors.

 

Arjulee explained that the price of bananas has increased significantly, now costing between 35 and 40 baht per bunch. Despite the impact on her business, she has chosen not to increase her prices.

 

She mentioned that although everything has become more expensive, she can still manage as long as she sells in large quantities. Raising prices could deter customers, leading to even lower profits.

 

“Bananas are very expensive and hard to find. In the past, a bunch of bananas cost around 12 to 15 baht, but now they are 35 to 40 baht. Although we are significantly affected, we haven’t raised our prices for customers.

 

“We manage by selling a lot. If we sell less, we won’t see any profit. We don’t plan to raise prices yet because we feel for our customers, but we hope they understand our situation as well.”

 

On a typical day, the couple would use about 40 to 50 bunches of bananas, but now they can only secure 25 bunches, a significantly smaller amount. Despite these challenges, Arjulee and Supavit continue their daily routine, ensuring their customers still receive their beloved banana fritters without a price increase, reported KhaoSod.

 

By Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-08-27

 

 

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[KannikaP]

7 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Unlike typical vendors who use frying pans, she opts for aluminium pots, which she believes offer more consistent heat, ensuring the fritters cook evenly and become perfectly crispy. This unique frying method has set her apart from other vendors.

In other words she is Deep frying them as opposed to Shallow frying. Like you do chips.

[BangkokReady]

It's quite amazing how adverse Thai people are to raising prices.  I guess the way the government has always subsidised most things for the people, price increases make it seem like you are attacking the customer.  I've seen traders reduce portion sizes dramatically in order to not have to increase prices, even though that is effectively a price increase.

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Currently, the high price and shortage of bananas are causing significant trouble for vendors. In the past, a bunch of bananas cost between 12 and 15 baht, but now the price has soared to 35 baht per bunch. Usually, the couple would use 45 bunches of bananas

Quite the profit margin I would imagine, 

[soalbundy]

In my village bunches of bananas a basically free, between 5 to 10 Baht.

[john donson]

same here, one vendor has bags and bags of supply to fry and nothing in any 7/11 anymore

[watchcat]

This banana stuff makes the thais fatter and fatter.

[watchcat]

On 8/27/2024 at 9:26 AM, snoop1130 said:

 

“Bananas are very expensive and hard to find. In the past, a bunch of bananas cost around 12 to 15 baht, but now they are 35 to 40 baht.

 

Sounds like you're frequenting the wrong places.

[brianthainess]

On 8/28/2024 at 6:05 AM, hotchilli said:

Quite the profit margin I would imagine, 

Yes but after having paid her Tax....................

[Denim]

Maybe carrot fritters and onion rings would help balance the books.