New Zealand’s products play a role in elevating Vietnam’s F&B industry to the next level

With a growing demand for fresh and sustainable produce, New Zealand's products are becoming increasingly popular amongst local restaurants and foodservice providers. At Flavors Vietnam 2023 (taking place on March 10 in Hanoi and March 17 in Ho Chi Minh City), New Zealand Trade & Enterprise will introduce a diverse portfolio of New Zealand’s most popular F&B products, ranging from dairy to syrup to seafood and meat, offering unique flavors, high quality, safe, and ethical ingredients to the local market.

The F&B industry in Vietnam has been thriving in recent years and is expected to reach a market value of USD 50 billion by 2025. High Earners Not Rich Yet (HENRYs) make up a significant part of the market and have high curiosity and aspirations for new experiences, with a focus on wellness. This demand for high-quality and sustainable F&B products is expected to drive the growth of the industry. At the same time, the HORECA industry, while enjoying many advantages of an emerging market, is facing challenges regarding the standards food safety and the quality source of supply.

New Zealand’s products have stepped up to meet these needs. New Zealand's food and beverage industry has long been known for its high standards and focus on quality. The country's diverse landscape and climate provide an ideal environment for producing a wide range of fresh and nutritious ingredients, including meat, seafood, dairy, and fruits. New Zealand lamb, for example, is grass-fed and free-range, making it a healthy and ethical choice for consumers. Similarly, New Zealand's seafood is sustainably sourced and renowned for its freshness and quality.

At Flavors Vietnam 2023, New Zealand companies will introduce various sources of ingredients that have been carefully sourced and processed to meet the highest standards of quality and safety. The inclusion of New Zealand products in Vietnam’s F&B industry is expected to raise the standard of food and beverage offerings in the country, enabling HORECA partners to have a reliable source of supply while offering Vietnamese consumers new and exciting flavors.

New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam, Tredene Cherie Dobson, expressed her excitement about the collaboration between New Zealand and Vietnam in the food and beverage industry, saying, “New Zealand's ingredients offer a unique flavor and texture profile that can enhance the taste of already famous Vietnamese dishes. In addition, our commitment to sustainability means that we are a reliable and responsible source of high-quality ingredients for the Vietnamese foodservice industry.”.

“New Zealand's collaboration with Vietnam in the F&B industry has been successful, with the total trade value between the two countries exceeding NZD 2.39 billion in year ended June 2022, with the F&B segment playing a crucial role in the overall picture. The exciting collaboration with our Vietnamese partners will bring more of New Zealand's high quality, nutritious and sustainable products to the Vietnamese market. We believe that the combination of New Zealand’s finest ingredients and Vietnam’s rich culinary traditions can take the F&B industry in Vietnam to the next level.”, the Ambassador added.

Among the companies showcasing their products at Flavors Vietnam 2023 is Fonterra, the world’s largest exporter of dairy products. Fonterra has been exporting dairy products to Vietnam for over a decade and has recently expanded its range to include premium dairy products such as Anchor butter, cheese, and milk. Meadow Fresh will showcase its line of UHT full cream milk, which offers the nutrition and taste that consumers are looking for. They always have the source of qualified delicious milk made from 100% pure natural fresh milk, with no preservatives, naturally containing calcium and protein.

SHOTT Beverages will bring a wide range of premium real fruit concentrates and premium coffee syrups made from natural ingredients that can be used to create fruit tea, cocktails, smoothies, and desserts. The three products featured in the event are Gold Kiwifruit, Triple Peach and Flamed Orange.

Meanwhile, Sanford, New Zealand’s largest and oldest seafood company, will showcase fresh offerings from the country’s sustainable sources such as premium quality salmon and the delicious scampi sourced from the pristine water of the Pacific Ocean. Kono Seafood will present a fresh taste of green-lipped mussels from New Zealand, to shine on any fine-dining table. On the other hand, Highford will offer a range of retail and foodservice cuts of high-quality lamb and beef products using traditional methods.

Last but not least, Tatua, a New Zealand company known for producing high-quality dairy products using sustainable and ethical practices, will showcase its Mascarpone cheese - a versatile ingredient that can be used in sweet and savory dishes, and is popular among home cooks and professional chefs alike.