Many hawkers are increasing their food prices to keep up with the increasing costs of living, as well as the rise of costs in running a food stall.
One man in Penang, Malaysia, has taken it upon himself to decrease his food prices instead of increasing them, despite the increasing costs.
Hawker Ong Eng Kim, who runs a chicken rice stall in Penang, Malaysia, told Sin Chew Daily that back when he priced his chicken rice at RM5 (or SGD $1.50), he could barely sell 8 whole chickens in a day.
But after decreasing the food prices of his menu to RM3 (or SGD $0.90), as well as offering roasted pork and barbecue pork rice (char siew), he is now selling more chickens each day.
He said that he is not planning to change the prices anymore and that he had always planned to sell chicken rice at this low price.
His customers had initially thought that he was running a promotion for a short time and that he was simply trying to boost his sales.
He was asked how he earns money by selling chicken rice at such a low price, but he said that despite earning lesser from each plate of chicken rice, he is making a profit because of the increase in sales of each plate.
The 50-year-old hawker said that with each chicken that he sells, he makes a profit of $6 and that he is selling about 20 chickens each day; although he is aiming to sell 25 whole chickens each day.
And although he only manages a small profit, he said that the most important thing for him is to be able to help other people through tough times and continue to feed people, which makes him happy.
He added that even though the pandemic is over, many people are still struggling financially and even though he doesn’t earn much with his RM3 chicken rice, the most important thing is for him to help others by feeding them.
Ong runs his chicken rice stall at the Hong Kong Yum Cha Corner along Jalan Macalister in George Town, Penang, Malaysia; and operates from Monday to Saturday from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm.