STO starts selling 23 essential food items

STO has begun selling the 23 essential food items they will import to address rising food costs in Maldives markets.

STO said they will sell 10 types of fruits and vegetables, eggs, and lentils. The imported vegetables by STO are onions, garlic, carrots, eggplant, sweet potato, potato, cabbage, pumpkin, spinach and garlic. 

The fruits STO will be selling are bananas, apples, oranges, lemons, passion fruit, mango, papaya, watermelon, chilis and grapes.

The essential food items that STO decided to import are items that have increased in price that affects locals the most. They are also bringing in essential food items that are needed for general health with import dates taken into account. These decisions were made after lengthy discussions.

STO Managing Director Shimad Ibrahim stated during a press conference it is a historical event that STO has begun selling essential food items.

Shimad said that they are working to purchase these items from local farmers, along with other produce such as Kandoodhoo chili and many others. He also said that they are currently purchasing passion fruit from local farmers.

Shimad stated that STO is a company that keeps a close relationship with local businesses and that there is a designated area in the Industrial Village for businessmen to off-load their products.

Shimad went on to say that they are working on converting the former STO Home Improvement Showroom into a shop that sells fruits and vegetables in order to make it easier for island distributors that conduct their business via vessels.

Shimad stated that the food items they have begun selling to the public will be marked at a low price.

"We will sell the food items at the best prices after comparing them to market rates. Our biggest aim right now is to provide the public with essential food items marked at retail and low prices, even more so than the wholesale market," said Shimad.

He gave his assurance that this change will be a sustainable one.

During the press conference, Shimad said that they are working on opening a retail outlet in Hulhumale' Phase 1  and Hulhumale' Phase 2 after receiving complaints that it was lacking. 

STO decided the pricing for the 23 essential food items after taking the market rate into account. Sale prices will change according to future market changes. Those who want to check STO's pricing can do so by going to the Economic Ministry's "AguMagu" portal.

STO has said that they are in discussions to provide even more of an ease to businessmen. They also said that they will facilitate an easier way to bring in these food items after looking at the demand.