Beijing: The Olympic Games have sent the sales of snacks soaring in China.

Sports fans here are stocking up food at home so that they do not have to go out to eat when their favourite Olympic event is on television.

Carrefour, the largest foreign retailer in China, said sales of snacks and imported beer have increased significantly since the Games started.

The sale of snacks at the supermarket's Fangyuan branch in Beijing has risen by nearly 16 percent in the past two weeks. Prunes, in particular, have seen a 60 percent growth in sales.

More people are also buying food from online stores to save time.

Taobao.com, a popular online market, said intra-city transactions have increased by more than 20 percent.

Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou have seen the most significant growth. Various kinds of nuts and pastries top the list.
Source : IANS