Low Patronage: Supermarkets and Food Stores Shun Noodles, Embrace Spaghetti

In a surprising shift within Nigeria’s food market, supermarkets and food stores are witnessing a significant decline in noodle sales, while spaghetti and macaroni are gaining popularity. Traditionally, noodles have been a staple for many Nigerian households due to their convenience and affordability.

However, the early 2020s brought an economic downturn exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The resulting inflation led to a sharp increase in the prices of goods, including noodles. As the Naira weakened, the cost of noodles soared, making them less affordable for many Nigerians. A pack of noodles, once priced at N50, now costs N200, with the quantity proving insufficient even for a toddler.

Many households, feeling the pinch of these rising costs, turned to spaghetti. Despite its own price increase from N200 to N900 per pack, spaghetti offers a more substantial quantity, making it a more economical choice for families.

Mrs. Doris Iduzogie, a wholesale noodles seller, highlighted the drastic shift in consumer preference. “Since the increments in the price of noodles, people have moved to spaghetti. Many complained about the reduced quantity despite the higher price. I used to sell up to 500 cartons of noodles a week, but now I struggle to sell 100.”

Retailers also noted the trend. Mr. George Uweni, a supermarket manager, shared his experience: “The last time we stocked noodles, we nearly ran into a loss as we recorded no sales in a week. All customers were buying spaghetti and macaroni. Our sales of these items are higher than ever before.”

Consumers like Mr. Cornelius Maduka have also observed the change firsthand. “I visited four stores to buy noodles for my kids but couldn’t find any. Store owners stopped selling noodles due to high costs and low patronage. They persuaded me to buy spaghetti instead, which has become the new norm in our household.”

The price hike has been significant across different noodle sizes. A carton of 70-gram noodles (40 sachets) now costs between N9,000 and N9,100, up from N1,800. Larger sizes have seen similar increases, making noodles a less attractive option for budget-conscious consumers.