Thai consumers crave Vietnam fish sauce: Central Retail exec

By Lan Do
Tue, July 23, 2024 | 1:25 pm GMT+7

Vietnamese fish sauce is the best in the world because it is produced based on long-standing tradition, so Thai people love it, said Paul Le, vice president of Central Retail, a member of Thailand's Central Group.

Paul Le recently spoke to the The Investor and the press about the story of Vietnamese goods and the GO! retail chain on the sidelines of the "Business Matching and Vietnamese Product Introduction Week" in Ho Chi Minh City.

Central Retail currently has 34 GO! supermarkets around the country.

Paul Le, vice president of Central Retail. Photo courtesy of Nong nghiep Viet Nam (Vietnam Agriculture) newspaper.

Paul Le, vice president of Central Retail. Photo courtesy of Nong nghiep Viet Nam (Vietnam Agriculture) newspaper.

Could you share about the presence of Vietnamese goods at GO! supermarkets?

Currently, Vietnamese agricultural products account for 95% of GO! Vietnam's total agriculture products. Every time we organize a networking event like this, we discover many other good Vietnamese products, and then find ways to bring them into GO!. We also help Vietnamese businesses tweak their products a bit, such as packaging, product names, and eye-catching colors, because customers only take two seconds to decide what to buy.

If a product has a story, we will be able to tell that story and bring those products to provinces and cities where we have supermarkets domestically and internationally.

How does GO! introduce Vietnamese products to consumers through telling stories?

We have a story about purple rice with its ingredients from Bac Lieu, a place with a special cultivation history that includes both rice and shrimp. Bac Lieu also has many good products. At the end of the year, we will open a center in Bac Lieu, and gather good products from the province for our supermarket network.

What are the outstanding features of Vietnamese products in GO! and what needs to be improved?

The Vietnamese goods we sell at GO! are high-quality products. But not only that, the products are also cheap because we want 100 million Vietnamese people to buy high-quality products at good prices so that all consumers have the opportunity to access them.

You mentioned bringing Vietnamese products to the world. Can you share any specific stories?

We led 13 Vietnamese businesses from Phu Quoc to Thailand two years ago. In two days, no fish sauce was left because Vietnamese fish sauce is the best in the world. We tell consumers that Vietnamese fish sauce only has two ingredients: salt and fish. Vietnam’s fish sauce has a long tradition and a very natural taste.

We also want to bring fish sauce from the northern and central regions to the world. We want to bring the best to overseas Vietnamese and foreigners.

Two years ago, GO! brought Phu Quoc fish sauce to Thailand. How is Phu Quoc fish sauce currently sold in Thailand?

When we introduced Vietnamese fish sauce to Thai consumers, it was like planting seeds in the ground and watching flowers bloom. Vietnam also has many other good products, such as lychees. This year there was a crop failure, but we still exhibited in Thailand. Bac Giang province’s lychees are delicious.

What other potential products does Vietnam have besides fish sauce and lychees?

Cashew nuts, noodles, rice paper, spices, coffee, and many other products are very good. In addition, products from craft villages, other than food, are also excellent.

Comments (0)
  • Read More
Vietnam prioritizes smart, green seaport projects: Deputy PM

Vietnam prioritizes smart, green seaport projects: Deputy PM

Vietnam encourages smart and green seaport investments, as technical barriers related to CO2 emissions and CO2 taxes begin to be tightened up globally.

Infrastructure - Wed, May 28, 2025 | 10:07 pm GMT+7

New Zealand, Vietnam expand timber trade partnership

New Zealand, Vietnam expand timber trade partnership

New Zealand Forestry and Trade Minister Todd McClay on Tuesday unveiled a new bilateral agreement with Vietnam designed to boost timber exports and remove potential trade barriers in the two countries' forestry sectors.

Companies - Wed, May 28, 2025 | 8:53 pm GMT+7

Norway vows to support Vietnam's energy transition

Norway vows to support Vietnam's energy transition

Norway is committed to supporting Vietnam’s energy transition, Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken said at a technical seminar held in Hanoi on Wednesday.

Companies - Wed, May 28, 2025 | 8:49 pm GMT+7

Thailand expected to become regional luxury retail hub

Thailand expected to become regional luxury retail hub

Thailand's luxury retail market is valued at $4.4 billion and projected to grow by approximately 5% annually through 2028, placing the country at the forefront of luxury retail in Southeast Asia and seventh in Asia-Pacific, according to property consultant CBRE Thailand.

Southeast Asia - Wed, May 28, 2025 | 8:44 pm GMT+7

Indonesia affirms role as leading global maritime hub

Indonesia affirms role as leading global maritime hub

The Indonesia Maritime Expo, held as part of Indonesia Maritime Week 2025 on May 26-28, is the first large-scale maritime event in the country, aiming to affirm its role as a global maritime hub and promote the sustainable development of the region’s maritime industry.

Southeast Asia - Wed, May 28, 2025 | 8:41 pm GMT+7

Vietnam benchmark VN-Index hits 3-year high

Vietnam benchmark VN-Index hits 3-year high

The VN-Index, which represents the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), recorded a four-day gaining streak on Wednesday, rising 2.06 points, or 0.15%, to 1,341.87 points - the highest since May 2022.

Finance - Wed, May 28, 2025 | 6:37 pm GMT+7

HSBC launches sustainability improvement loan in Vietnam

HSBC launches sustainability improvement loan in Vietnam

HSBC has introduced its Sustainability Improvement Loan, a new financing solution tailored for businesses with annual turnover less than $550 million, in Vietnam, after launching it in 12 markets including the UK, Middle East, Hong Kong and Singapore last year.

Banking - Wed, May 28, 2025 | 6:15 pm GMT+7

CMA CGM, Saigon Newport to jointly develop deep-sea terminal in northern Vietnam

CMA CGM, Saigon Newport to jointly develop deep-sea terminal in northern Vietnam

France's CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions, has signed a partnership agreement with Vietnam's Saigon Newport Corporation (SNP) to develop a deep-water terminal in Hai Phong city, northern Vietnam.

Infrastructure - Wed, May 28, 2025 | 5:01 pm GMT+7

Japan’s chipmaker Rapidus pledges semiconductor workforce training for Vietnam

Japan’s chipmaker Rapidus pledges semiconductor workforce training for Vietnam

Rapidus Corporation, a semiconductor manufacturer of Japan, has affirmed its readiness to train semiconductor workforce for Vietnam.

Economy - Wed, May 28, 2025 | 3:21 pm GMT+7

Corporate leaders offer insight into Vietnam's social housing investment landscape

Corporate leaders offer insight into Vietnam's social housing investment landscape

Corporate leaders explained why they are reluctant to invest in social housing, despite the enormous demand in Vietnam, and recommended solutions. Kim Ngan reports.

Real Estate - Wed, May 28, 2025 | 2:49 pm GMT+7

France’s pharma giant Sanofi to transfer vaccine production tech to VNVC factory in southern Vietnam

France’s pharma giant Sanofi to transfer vaccine production tech to VNVC factory in southern Vietnam

Sanofi will transfer vaccine production technology to a Long An province-based factory of Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC), whose construction began on Tuesday.

Companies - Wed, May 28, 2025 | 11:54 am GMT+7

Telco giant Viettel, S Korea’s KT partner to boost AI transformation in Vietnam

Telco giant Viettel, S Korea’s KT partner to boost AI transformation in Vietnam

Vietnam’s military-run telecom heavyweight Viettel has signed a strategic partnership agreement with KT, formerly known as Korea Telecom, to advance AI transformation (AX) in the Southeast Asian nation.

Companies - Wed, May 28, 2025 | 9:21 am GMT+7

Japanese companies should be 'early-bird investors' in Vietnam’s semiconductor industry

Japanese companies should be 'early-bird investors' in Vietnam’s semiconductor industry

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung has urged Japanese companies, particularly Kioxia Corporation, to take advantage of current opportunities and invest early in Vietnam’s emerging semiconductor industry.

Industries - Tue, May 27, 2025 | 10:03 pm GMT+7

French firms should invest more in renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture: Vietnam's Deputy PM

French firms should invest more in renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture: Vietnam's Deputy PM

French companies should enhance their business ties with Vietnam in the fields of high technology, sustainable development, renewable energy, infrastructure, transportation, and agriculture, says Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Phoc.

Investing - Tue, May 27, 2025 | 9:39 pm GMT+7

S Korean chipmaker Hana Micron to cut capacity at northern Vietnam plant on order shortage

S Korean chipmaker Hana Micron to cut capacity at northern Vietnam plant on order shortage

South Korean semiconductor player Hana Micron Vina Co. plans to reduce the initial capacity of its plant in Vietnam’s northern province of Bac Ninh by one-third due to a lack of orders.

Industries - Tue, May 27, 2025 | 4:55 pm GMT+7

S Korean energy giant LS looks to invest in high-potential rare earth mines in Vietnam

S Korean energy giant LS looks to invest in high-potential rare earth mines in Vietnam

LS Eco Energy, a subsidiary of South Korea’s cable and energy giant LS Cable & System, is seeking to invest in high-potential rare earth mines in Vietnam following legal issues involving its local partner.

Industries - Tue, May 27, 2025 | 4:35 pm GMT+7