Fruit traders are predicting a massive rise in fresh fruit sales in Indonesia in June-July this year thanks to the concurrence of Ramadan and the football world cup.
Indonesian retailers predict that fruit consumption during Ramadan 2014 (28 June – 28 July) will be much higher than in 2013 because this year many followers will stay up all night snacking while watching football broadcast from Brazil (June 12-July 13).
In Indonesia fruit sales can treble during the holy month because fruit is typically eaten before fasting starts at sunrise, and to break the fast each evening, reveals Kafi Kurnia, managing director of Jakarta-based consultancy Peka Consult.
“Indonesia has a Muslim population of more than 200m and a horticultural import market worth US$2-2.5bn,” says Kurnia. “Fruit sales can easily rise by 200-300 per cent during Ramadan. But this year retailers expect sales to rise even higher because it overlaps with the world cup.
'During the fasting month, the last meal is taken before sunrise, at around 4am, with no food or drink taken until sundown at 6pm in the evening. But the football will give people an excuse to stay up all night eating and drinking,” he explains.
