Masan Group named on Forbes Asia’s 200 Best 2019

Masan Group's Nam Ngu is one of the two most popular food brands in urban and rural areas across Vietnam

The search started with a pool of 3,200 listed companies in the Asia-Pacific region with $1 billion or more in revenue in their latest financial year. Unprofitable companies and those whose sales declined in the past five years were then eliminated.

Next off the list were companies carrying long-term debt equal to or greater than half their capital and those with glaring governance or legal problems.

Contenders were ranked by a pool of more than a dozen metrics, including average five-year sales, operating income growth, return on capital, and projected growth over the next one to two years. Those having the highest composite score earned a place in the final list of 200.

Seven listed companies from Vietnam have made it to Forbes Asia’s inaugural Best Over $1 billion revenue list, including Masan Group, Thegioididong (Mobile World), Sabeco, Vietjet Air, Vinamilk, Techcombank, and Vingroup.

According to Forbes Asia, Masan Group's revenue in the last financial year was over $1.6 billion, with a market capitalisation surpassing $3.7 billion.

The company was also recognised in reputed rankings in Vietnam. On August 15, 2019, Masan Group was selected by Forbes Magazine as one of the 50 Best Listed Companies in Vietnam 2019. This is also the seventh consecutive year Masan Group championed the ranking.

In June 2019, Masan Group was highlighted by Nhip Cau Dau Tu Magazine as one of the 50 Best Performing Companies in Vietnam in 2018 and belongs to the group of 17 enterprises with the market capitalisation reaching over $1 billion.

In 2018, Masan Group's after-tax profit jumped 58.4 per cent to VND4.916 trillion ($213.74 million), the highest level since its listing. Masan Consumer, Masan Group's consumer goods business, began trading on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) in 2018 and posted VND2.162 trillion ($94 million) in after-tax profit thanks to the growth of the food and beverage categories.

Masan MEATLife has launched its fresh chilled meat products under the MEAT Deli brand in December 2018

According to the 2019 Brand Footprint report by Kantar Worldpanel, Masan Consumers are among the top 3 manufacturers owning the most widely-chosen brands in urban areas (four major cities) and rural areas for seven consecutive years. Masan’s Nam Ngu is one of the two most popular food brands in urban and rural areas.

In July this year, Masan MEATLife (MML) – a subsidiary of Masan Group – announced its mission to provide better meat products for nearly 100 million Vietnamese consumers and its plan to list MML on the UPCoM in 2019. MML successfully launched the first fresh chilled meat product certified with European processing technology under the brand “MEAT Deli” in December 2018.