Metro hawks domestic fruit and veg overseas

The Metro Cash & Carry supermarket chain is keen on selling Vietnamese products

“The first 23-tonne batch of Vietnamese dragon fruits that reached Shanghai earlier this month signalled the great potential for fruit and vegetable exports from Vietnam to China and other countries,” said Do Kim Dung, fresh and frozen sourcing manager, Metro Singapore Trading Office.

Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam, Metro Singapore Trading Office and ministries in Vietnam have joined efforts to enhance Vietnamese exports via the Metro network.

“This is the first trial order with Red Dragon, a Vietnamese company,” said Dung. “The volume of this order is small but we hope it will grow in the next few years.”

According to Dung, Metro is currently sourcing qualified Vietnamese suppliers who can provide diverse agricultural products such as garlic, ginger, passion fruit, star fruit, rambutan, white and green asparagus and strawberries.

In 2013, Metro purchased more than $6 million worth of food produced in Vietnam directly from Vietnamese suppliers which was distributed to its stores around the globe.  Key products were seafood and fruits.

Next year Metro is planning to source $12 million in goods from Vietnam.

“Vietnam has great potential and perfect conditions to produce quality products such as seafood, fruits and vegetables,” said  Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam’s managing director Philippe Bacac.

“Instead of importing uncontrolled and untraceable agricultural products from other countries, Vietnam should invest more in modernising the sector and improving the competency of various stakeholders in the supply chains,” he said.

Entering Vietnam in 2002, Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam now possesses 19 stores nationwide. The company has invested heavily in developing cold chains and sustainable supply chains in the country to ensure hygiene and food safety from farm to fork.

With good agricultural practice training provided to over 20,000 farmers and fishermen and other public-private partnership initiatives supporting the agricultural sector, Metro has played an important role in local economic development.

The company won two top prizes for sustainable supply chains at the Vietnam Supply Chain Congress in 2011 and 2012.