A woman chooses from assorted Myanmar made canned fish at Super One Shopping Centre in Yangon last week. Local brands are more popular for the reasonable prices.

LIFESTYLE changes and the pressures of modern life have resulted in an increasing number of consumers relying on canned products to save time on cooking.

The trend has seen a steady rise in demand for canned fish and meat, with a strong preference among Myanmar consumers for domestically-made products.

Canned fish and meat products made in Myanmar are far more popular than imported brands and the reason is their cheaper price, said Daw Marlar Oo, a general manager of Super One Supermarket.

“Myanmar-made canned tuna and sardines are the top sellers among local consumers, and only foreigners and wealthy Myanmar buy canned fish imported from Malaysia and Thailand,” she said.

As well as cheaper prices, Myanmar-made brands also benefit from more extensive advertising, Daw Marlar Oo said.

A glance at any supermarket or grocery store shelf shows that Myanmar-made canned fish products range from K300 to K800, but imported brands can cost as much as K3500. Malaysian brands are the most expensive, followed by those from Thailand and China.

Myanmar-made brands of canned tuna, sardines and hilsa, as well as chicken and mutton, are available in a range of sizes and are readily available in supermarkets and big and small stores.

“Although these canned products are popular and the demand is strong, prices have doubled over the past five years,” Daw Marlar Oo said. Further price increases could affect demand in the long term, she said.

Businessman U Aung Tun, 54, said his family often eats Myanmar-made canned fish as an ingredient in curry.

“It is easy to prepare and the result is a tasty, low-cost meal,” he said.
He advised consumers to always check the use-by date on canned products. U Aung Tun said he had noticed products which had passed their use-by date on the shelves of some supermarkets.

“People need to check the expiry date to avoid health problems,” he said.