KUCHING: Shop owners specialising in selling mooncakes and lanterns are busy with preparations to cater to demands during the annual Mid-Autumn Festival, which will be celebrated on Friday (Sept 29).
New Sarawak Tribune reached out to several shop owners to gather insights into sales trends and customer preferences.
Pauline’s moon cakes.
Pauline Sim, 49, the owner of Hap Chen Hian Food Supplier, said her shop has been operating for a decade and is known for offering a wide variety of mooncake flavours.
Among them, lotus paste, egg yolk, pandan, mixed nuts, and the traditional Bai Yue Gao Moon Cake, as well as the soft and delectable La Go Moon Cake.
Sim Siaw Boo with his moon cakes.
“I have a sentimental connection to the Bai Yue Gao Moon Cake, remembering my family’s tradition of enjoying it during the Moon Cake Festival.
“All the mooncakes we sell are made by my aunt,” she proudly mentioned.
She offers traditional mooncakes during the festival season, with lotus paste and egg yolk being the top-selling flavours.
This year, she said she noticed a decrease in mooncake sales compared to the previous year.
Jong Yean Pin with his lanterns
Meanwhile, third-generation owner of Sin Hian Chia Enterprise, Sim Siaw Boon, 40, said he has been operating the business for an impressive 80 years.
He noted that mooncake sales have been better this year compared to last year.
“I am dedicated to creating new flavours to appeal to younger customers and also focusing on low-sugar mooncakes to promote good health among older individuals.
“Among the traditional flavours, lotus paste remains the king, but green bean and red bean paste mooncakes are also top choices among my customers,” he added.
Sim shared that he also ventured into snow-skinned mooncakes, with flavours like chocolate cheese and mango becoming this year’s best-sellers which have already sold out.
As for lanterns, New Sarawak Tribune met with several shop owners who specialises in colourful and illuminating decorations that the public will carry around during the festival.
Jong’s varieties of lanterns.
Jong Yean Pin, 48, the second-generation owner of Katai Import & Export Sdn Bhd, said they have imported a variety of rabbit-shaped lanterns this year, aligning with the Chinese zodiac’s Year of the Rabbit.
“Sales of lanterns have been excellent, with customers flocking to buy them since last week.
“Traditional paper lanterns with the LED lights have been especially popular, with all stocks sold out two days ago,” he said.
Jong further emphasised the significance of lanterns during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
“This is the second biggest celebration for the Chinese people to gather together, other than Chinese New Year.”
He added that children are drawn to the toy-like lanterns, while older generations prefer the traditional-shaped lanterns.
In contrast, Rachel Chai, 26, owner of Green Gallery, primarily offer traditional paper lanterns for her customers.
“This is the first year she has included lanterns in her offers, and the sales have been promising,” she said.
Although her selection is more limited compared to Jong’s, she has successfully tapped into the market’s appetite for lanterns during this festive season.
As the Mid-Autumn Festival approaches its final day, it’s clear that both mooncakes and lanterns continue to play a central role in celebrating this cherished Chinese tradition.
