Foodstuff suppliers are having an extremely busy time, with many working several hours beyond their usual operating schedule as the demand for consumables is on a peak owing to the festival season.

Gulf Times has learnt from industry sources that as a large number of residents continue to return to the country after their summer vacation, demand for food items increased manifold. Retailers of groceries are placing orders for additional delivery almost on a daily basis. As a result, those involved in the import and supply of foodstuff are finding themselves more occupied than usual.

Given the spurt in demand, especially for rice and dried foodstuff, has forced the suppliers to remain awake even in the wee hours as supply to many shopping locations are made outside their working hours because of the traffic and parking issues during the day.

For instance, even though workers at some of the storehouses were given holiday in the day time over the past two days, they reported for work in the late hours for such functions as sorting, packing, weighing and supplying of items to the retail outlets.

A senior official of a major supply house of foodstuff said owing to their additional commitments to the customers many workers are coming for duties even on holidays these days.

As the Eid holidays coincide with Onam celebrations of the southern Indian state Kerala's natives, there is additional demand for many food items. The rush at retail outlets are expected to last until the coming weekend, he added.