Vietnamese enterprises face difficulties taking goods to supermarkets - Part 1: Vietnamese products on the narrow corner of supermarket shelf

VCN - Although Vietnamese goods are increasingly being chosen by Vietnamese people, there are still many obstacles to be able to flow more into retail channels, especially supermarkets. Why is the scale of Vietnam's retail system expanding, especially in retail businesses with foreign investment, but Vietnamese goods still face many difficulties when entering supermarkets? Customs newspaper has investigated this issue.  
tin nhap 20190806144045 Vietnam to boost exports via retail channels
tin nhap 20190806144045 Agricultural products are still struggling to enter supermarkets
tin nhap 20190806144045 Imported meat with cheap price: Consumers suspect quality
tin nhap 20190806144045
Not every item with a Vietnamese brand name is easy to find in supermarkets.

Vietnam's retail market is constantly expanding, but it is being divided in internal and external markets. The increasing number of foreign giants participating in the retail market is a barrier for domestic goods to access the supermarket system.

Recently, a BigC supermarket representative said that the proportion of Vietnamese products in this supermarket system always maintained over 90% of the total types of goods traded. This answer is similar to many other domestic and foreign supermarkets in Vietnam. This can be understood that the amount of foreign goods only accounts for about 10%. But looking deeply we will understand how this 90% figure is actually, because this may be taking into account a series of products manufactured in Vietnam but not necessarily by Vietnamese brand.

According to reporters, at Big C Thang Long supermarket (Hanoi), the brand of "pure Vietnamese" is not really outstanding, except for strong products of Vietnam such as agricultural products and dry food. Meanwhile, right next to the dried food stalls are candy stalls where it is easy to see Vietnamese goods. The biscuits area still stands out as the brands of Jack & Jill (from Thailand), or products imported from Germany, Malaysia, and Kinh Do's products also quite outstanding with many products. However, with snack products, like Oishi and Orion, brands are almost dominant. As for chocolate products, it has become a private playground of imported products, with absolutely no Vietnamese goods.

At Lotte mart supermarket in Dong Da (Hanoi), it is easy to see the dominance of Vietnamese agricultural products and fresh food at this supermarket system, but other products like instant noodles, cosmetics, although it has been classified by each zone and each brand it is still very difficult for buyers to choose and compare products. Consumers can easily see at the beverage counter, the most prominent products are Pepsi, Coca Cola or Nestle. In cosmetic stalls, shampoo products, shower gel, washing water, toothpaste are still mainly of brands such as Unilever, P&G, LG. Or in the fast food products, the most widely sold and still the most popular products of Oishi, Pepsico with a series of products imported from Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Korea.

Korean products are more expensive but are always presented beautifully with their own stalls, in a separate area, easy-to-see locations as well as beautiful and unique products. Mr. Nguyen Anh Dung (Cau Giay, Hanoi) said: "In supermarkets I often see products coming from foreign countries or foreign brands always looking more attractive than domestic products. Moreover, these products are also very popular with promotions or gifts, so they are always selected by my family.”

According to Ms. Phuong Dung (Dong Da, Hanoi) because her family is located near Lotte supermarket, she often goes to this supermarket to buy things for her family. “Not every Vietnamese product can be easily found in this supermarket. For example, my family used to use My Hao dishwashing liquid, but at Lotte supermarket, I could not find any My Hao products,” Dung said.

tin nhap 20190806144045 The electronic market is ready for the hot season

VCN – Currently, electronic stores and supermarkets have overwhelmed electrical appliances with many promotions to serve the ...

It is worth mentioning that not only many Vietnamese brands are difficult to "squeeze" into supermarkets, but Vietnamese goods are often obstructed compared to imported goods or goods of foreign brands. According to reporters in a number of supermarkets, Vietnamese goods dominate in fresh food stalls, dry food, fresh milk, household appliances and garments. In another supermarket in Cau Giay district (Hanoi) when the reporter walked into, the most prominent products are cosmetic stand from Unilever and some other foreign brands, reporters had to closely look at more products of Shiny dishwashing of a Vietnamese enterprise. These items are often classified as "crowded" on store shelves, inside or "nestled" after imported products or foreign brands. Only a few items of big brands such as Vinamilk, TH are sold in a more eye-catching way with separate shelves.

By Thảo Dịu/Bui Diep

Related News

Closely monitoring market fluctuations to consider appropriate time to adjust prices

Closely monitoring market fluctuations to consider appropriate time to adjust prices

VCN - According to a report from the Ministry of Finance, in the second quarter and the remaining months of 2024, price management and administration need to ensure good control of inflation and continue to remove difficulties for production and business.
Take advantage of e-commerce leverage for export

Take advantage of e-commerce leverage for export

VCN - Exporting via e-commerce is gradually becoming popular and becoming a trend that many businesses are interested in.
Maintain the reputation of Vietnamese coffee amidst soaring prices

Maintain the reputation of Vietnamese coffee amidst soaring prices

VCN - Nguyen Nam Hai (photo), Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee-Cocoa Association (Vicofa), shared about the landscape of the Vietnamese coffee industry in the context of continuously increasing prices.
Dong Thap Customs: Proactively guide procedures, reduce customs clearance time for imported and exported goods

Dong Thap Customs: Proactively guide procedures, reduce customs clearance time for imported and exported goods

VCN - One of the key tasks that Dong Thap Customs Department has focused on in recent times is the work of guiding and answering timely procedures for businesses, in which the Professional Department - Dong Thap Customs Department has proactively responded specifically to businesses’ problems.

Latest News

Enterprises want clearer regulations on seafood production

Enterprises want clearer regulations on seafood production

There is a lack of consistency among existing legal documents on seafood production, making it difficult for enterprises to comply.
Vietnam ranks fifth among aquatic product suppliers for Singapore

Vietnam ranks fifth among aquatic product suppliers for Singapore

Vietnam jumped one place to become the fifth largest exporter of aquatic products to Singapore for the first time in the first quarter of this year, according to its Trade Office in the city state.
Forum seeks to increase PPP investment effectiveness

Forum seeks to increase PPP investment effectiveness

Investment cooperation in the public-private partnership (PPP) form is seen as a strategic option to mobilise private investment and improve public service delivery. However, the implementation of PPP projects in Vietnam still faces a lot of difficulties and obstacles, leading to a low number of successful projects and making the private economic sector cautious.
Linking businesses with cooperatives to increase the value chain

Linking businesses with cooperatives to increase the value chain

VCN - The issue of linking the value chain between domestic production units still has many "bottlenecks" that need to be resolved. In particular, solving the "problem" of linking businesses with cooperatives will help improve efficiency as well as meet the requirements of collective economic development.

More News

Vietnam has a trade deficit of over US$17 billion with China

Vietnam has a trade deficit of over US$17 billion with China

VCN – In the first quarter 2024, Vietnam-China trade reached US$43.6 billion. The country had a large trade deficit.
Tra fish export to UAE jumps 67% in Q1

Tra fish export to UAE jumps 67% in Q1

Vietnam’s tra fish export to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) reached more than 7 million USD in the first quarter of this year, a rise of 67% against the same period last year, statistics of the General Department of Customs showed.
Pepper prices continue increase trend

Pepper prices continue increase trend

Pepper prices are forecast to soon exceed 100,000 VND per kilo on the domestic market.
More efforts needed to maintain export growth to China: Insiders

More efforts needed to maintain export growth to China: Insiders

Exporters should further strengthen trade connections and improve the quality of their goods to sustain export growth to China as this is no longer a "lenient" market, said insiders.
It is expected that there are higher orders and revenue in the second quarter from European businesses

It is expected that there are higher orders and revenue in the second quarter from European businesses

VCN - The Business Confidence Index (BCI) according to a survey by the European Business Association in Vietnam (EuroCham) reached 52.8 in the first quarter of 2024 - the highest level since 2022, showing increasing confidence in Vietnam's European business community.
Vietnamese rice prices on the hike

Vietnamese rice prices on the hike

The prices of Vietnamese paddy and rice continued to increase last week, according to the the Vietnam Food Association (VFA).
FDI flow into garment and textile sector bounces back

FDI flow into garment and textile sector bounces back

The flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Vietnamese garment and textile sector has rebounded thanks to the country’s sound investment climate and abundant workforce as well as its open economy, according to insiders.
Investors play a key role in developing the industrial park system

Investors play a key role in developing the industrial park system

VCN - Dr. Phan Huu Thang, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam Industrial Park Finance Association, former Director of the Foreign Investment Department (Ministry of Planning and Investment), said that basically, developing an industrial park successfully or not mainly depends on businesses, entrepreneurs - industrial park investors.
Find ways to a corporation for businesses in industrial parks

Find ways to a corporation for businesses in industrial parks

VCN - The country has nearly 300 industrial parks in operation, but with the requirement to join the global value chain, the issue of linkage and connection between businesses in industrial parks and industrial clusters needs to be concentrated on more.
Read More

Your care

Latest Most read
Enterprises want clearer regulations on seafood production

Enterprises want clearer regulations on seafood production

There is a lack of consistency among existing legal documents on seafood production, making it difficult for enterprises to comply.
Vietnam ranks fifth among aquatic product suppliers for Singapore

Vietnam ranks fifth among aquatic product suppliers for Singapore

Vietnam jumped one place to become the fifth largest exporter of aquatic products to Singapore for the first time in the first quarter of this year, according to its Trade Office in the city state.
Forum seeks to increase PPP investment effectiveness

Forum seeks to increase PPP investment effectiveness

Investment cooperation in the public-private partnership (PPP) form is seen as a strategic option to mobilise private investment and improve public service delivery. However, the implementation of PPP projects in Vietnam still faces a lot of difficulties and obstacles, leading to a low number of successful projects and making the private economic sector cautious.
Linking businesses with cooperatives to increase the value chain

Linking businesses with cooperatives to increase the value chain

VCN - According to experts, in value chain links, agricultural cooperatives both play a role in promoting links between farmer households through collective economic activities to organize production and promote vertical linkages with businesses along the
Vietnam has a trade deficit of over US$17 billion with China

Vietnam has a trade deficit of over US$17 billion with China

VCN - According to the latest statistics of the General Department of Customs, the import-export turnover between Vietnam and China in March reached US$ 16.32 billion, including Vietnam's exports achieved US$5.15 billion, imports reached US$11.17 billion.
Mobile Version