New Zealand products to elevate Vietnam’s F&B industry

Flavors Vietnam 2023, the fourth-such annual gastronomical festival, will take place on March 10 in Hanoi and March 17 in Ho Chi Minh City. There, New Zealand companies will introduce various food products and ingredients that have been carefully sourced and processed to meet the highest standards of quality and safety.

The introduction of New Zealand products to Vietnam’s F&B industry is expected to raise the standard of offerings in the country, enabling hotel and restaurant industry partners to secure a reliable source of supplies while offering Vietnamese consumers new and exciting flavours.

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

“The total trade value between the two countries exceeded $1.5 billion in the year ended June 2022, with F&B playing a crucial role in the overall picture," added Dobson. "We believe that the combination of New Zealand’s finest ingredients and Vietnam’s rich culinary traditions can take the food service industry here to the next level”,

The food sector in Vietnam has been thriving in recent years and is expected to reach a market value of $50 billion by 2025. Demand for high-quality and sustainable F&B products is expected to drive this growth. The hotel and restaurant industry, despite enjoying the many advantages of an emerging market, faces several challenges regarding the standards of food safety and the quality of supply sources.

New Zealand and its food products could be a solution to meet these needs, as the country has long been known for its high standards and focus on quality. The diverse landscape and climate provide an ideal environment for producing a wide range of fresh and nutritious ingredients, including meat, seafood, dairy, and fruit.

Fonterra, a New Zealand-based multinational dairy company, and the world’s largest exporter of dairy products, has been exporting 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, also from New Zealand, will showcase its line of UHT full cream milk, while Sanford, New Zealand’s largest and oldest seafood company, will showcase fresh offerings from sustainable sources such as their premium quality salmon and scampi sourced from the pristine waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Also featured will be Kono Seafood, Highford with their first-rate lamb and beef products, and Tatua, renowned for producing high-quality dairy products using sustainable and ethical practices. Tatua will showcase its Mascarpone cheese, a versatile ingredient that can be used in sweet and savoury dishes, and is popular among home cooks and professional chefs alike.