High fees by hypermarkets a deterrent

Hypermarkets are an important avenue for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to market their products. However, the percentage of SME products in hypermarkets locally is still very low.

The major barrier preventing these products from entering hypermarkets is the high listing fees. SMI Association of Malaysia national president Chua Tiam Wee says hypermarkets are seen as not doing enough in helping SMEs to market their products. The strategy of hypermarkets, says Chua, is perceived to be marketing fast-moving products at low prices to attract consumers.