“However, sales during the first six months of the current year (March 21-Sept. 22) have decreased by 30% compared with last year’s corresponding period,” Eskandar Azmoudeh, the head of Juice, Ice Cream and Coffee Shop Union of Tehran, told ILNA.
According to the official, the fall in consumption is due to the decline in people’s purchasing power.
“In addition, the problem has been exacerbated by the rise in the prices of raw materials, pistachios for instance,” Financial Tribune quoted him as saying.
Azmoodeh added that sellers are avoiding the rise in prices over the risk of losing their customers.