Competitive prices attract throngs of customers to the bustling market on the Yangon River, where many growers sell their produce directly to consumers.
Daw San Yu regularly makes the journey from Yankin township to shop at the market for her family. “This is a one-stop market for fruit and vegetables in Yangon and all the fruit and vegetables here are fresh and cheap,” she said.

“The drinking water market is increasing year by year but it is difficult to give an exact figure,” said U Aung Thant Zin, director of PGS purified drinking water Company in Tarmwe township. The company has produced PGS purified water since 2004.

“Our yearly sales have increased by about 15 percent since 2005. But on special occasions like Thadingyut and Tazaungdaing in October and November, sales usually increase by about 20pc,”

They have had and continue to play a particularly important role in Myanmar literature as places where writers and intellectuals meet to discuss, debate and exchange ideas. The Lay Htan Gone (Wuthering Heights) tea shop in downtown Yangon’s 33rd Street is famous as a meeting place for writers.

“When I opened my first shop in 1997, most of my friends thought I’d struggle to do well because they doubted there would be much interest in eating fried chicken or French fries,” said U Aung Nyan Win, who is delighted to have proved his friends’ wrong.

China is one of the fastest-growing markets for instant noodles. The market is focusing on higher-end products, generally costing more than one renminbi. The top three brands in this category dominate more than 85 percent of the market; for the lower end (those below 1 RMB) the leading five hold around 60pc of the market share.

This year Thai-style fried seafood and barbeques are popular and can be found almost everywhere but especially near Yangon’s schools. Each piece costs between K100-200, with vegetables and meat available for either a snack or proper meal. But be warned - you have to spend at least five minutes waiting for the food to reach your hand.

The growth in sales of instant noodles since they first became widely available on the domestic market 10 years ago is staggering: latest estimates put sales at 200,000 to 300,000 packets a month, with manufacturers unable to meet demand.

“We have wines imported from France, Switzerland, Italy, Australia and even Romania but we also offer Myanmar wines too,” Ma Myint Aye said, adding that more than 50 brands of view point restament in Shan State town of Nyaung Shwe provides Shan cuisine and it is managed by Le Planteur.

A CHANGE in Myanmar’s economic policy after the end of the socialist era in 1988 has seen local people able to access and increasingly varied list of commodities ranging from clothing and sporting goods to humble snack foods.

THE food production industry in Myanmar must conquer a number of barriers to compete successfully in both domestic and international markets, said U Myat Thin Aung, president of the Myanmar Industrial Association (MIA).

THE domestic carbonated drinks industry needs to pay close attention to quality controls to maintain its competitive edge against imported products, said U Thein Htun, the chairman of one of the leading producers, Myanmar Golden Star Co Ltd (MGS).

Most of the western brands are sold in 900g cans and their prices vary from K28,500 to K31,000. However, the favourite brand for buyers is Dumex because at K10,000 for 900g, it is only one-third of the price of the recognised brands.

A huge increase in the acreage of fish and shrimp farms during the past decade was also noted. Fish farms covered more than 200,000 acres in 2005-2006, up from less than 50,000 acres in 1995-1996. For shrimp farms the figures were nearly identical, increasing from 46,000 to 207,000 acres.

“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.

“We prefer to go to pubs where draught beer is available. But I don't like going to pubs with stage shows with really loud music. I prefer places where we can talk and drink quietly.”