food and beverage
The Food & Beverage category covers market trends, production insights, and trade developments in the food and drink industry. It explores consumer preferences, supply chain issues, exports, imports, and regulatory policies, providing insights into sustainability, pricing trends, and investment opportunities in the sector.
Vietnam’s Saigon Beer maker planning increased stake in local beer brand Sagota
Vietnam’s beer market has reported some challenges over the last couple of years from stricter enforcement of drink driving laws, to belt-tightening among consumers on the back of broader economic challenges, to greater competition and an increase in imported beers. As a result, a number of beer makers in Vietnam have recorded negative or slower than expected growth. In this context, this announcement could be the beginning of an era of consolidation within the industry…
Name confusion in fake milk case sparks response from Netherlands dairy in Vietnam
Of note, it is not all that uncommon for local companies to choose names that could easily be associated with an existing firm or brand to high-jack their brand reputation. Though Vietnam has in recent years strengthened intellectual property laws, the reality is that enforcement has been challenging…
South Korean Choco-pie maker expecting Vietnam dividend over US$78 million
Vietnam’s food and beverage industry has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, driven by a combination of factors including rapid urbanisation, rising disposable incomes, and a burgeoning middle class. This has seen a big uptick in snack food consumption. On average, Vietnamese consume 5.2 kilograms of snack foods per person, slightly higher than the global average of five kilograms…
Emu eggs selling in Vietnam for up to US$40 a piece
Alongside rising middle class incomes, the demand for luxury goods and exotic foods in Vietnam is also growing. Of note, New Viet Dairy, an importer and distributor of speciality dairy and deli products, was sold to Japan’s Sojitz Corporation last year. The value of the deal was not announced, however, New Viet Dairy recorded revenue in 2022 of US$320 million…
Vietnam F&B outlets down 3.9 percent in six months to June: iPOS
The report suggest this was in large part the result of a spike in small food outlets opening and then closing within three months. It also notes that the market may have been over saturated with the number of new food outlets opening post-COVID outpacing revenue growth in the industry.
Starbucks closes premium store in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City
Of note, opening a cafe or coffee shop in Vietnam for foreign firms or individuals, however, is not always easy. Not only are there a number of technical and licensing requirements that need to be met, but Vietnam has also developed its own very distinct and unique coffee culture which can make penetrating Vietnam’s coffee consumer class challenging…
Vietnam Stock Reviews: Vinamilk (dairy products)
In the second half of the year, domestic consumption is projected to bounce partly thanks to a nationwide increase in the salaries of government employees, providing a strong stimulus for Vinamilk to grow. Additionally, Vinamilk is actively pursuing new opportunities by expanding its presence in global supply chains, focusing on emerging markets and leveraging free trade agreements…
PepsiCo Foods building $US90 million plant in northern Vietnam
Notably, Vietnam’s snack consumption is estimated at about 5.2 kg per capita, significantly higher than the global average of five kilograms, suggesting a healthy market for snack foods. Furthermore, Vietnam’s snack food market is projected to reach US$3.9 billion this year, with a compound annual growth rate of 8.15 percent from 2024 to 2029, according to Statista…
Vietnam considers rolling back drink-driving penalties
It is not clear what has driven the MPS to suggest these changes, however, it should be noted that the alcoholic beverage industry has repeatedly complained that enforcement of Vietnam’s strict drink driving laws has impacted sales significantly. In fact, Heineken cited the laws as one reason why it had to close a production facility in Vietnam’s Quang Nam province earlier this year.
World Bank recommends Vietnam raise alcohol excise tax to 155 percent
The World Bank reportedly does not believe the current tax increase slated for beer and wine in Vietnam are sufficient–The Ministry of Finance has a plan on the table to increase the SCT to 90 percent for beer and between 60 to 100 percent for wine and liquor. This would be an increase from 65 percent on beer and between 35 and 65 percent for wine and hard liquor depending on the alcohol content…
Vietnamese to consume additional 2.56 million litres of soft drink by 2033
Of note, Vietnam is currently debating adding soft drinks to the list of items subject to the Special Consumption Tax. In the most recent version of a revised SCT, the Ministry of Finance has included a ten percent tax on drinks with 5 grams or more of sugar per 100 millilitres. This legislation, however, is still in its draft stage…
Vietnam’s beer market to nearly double by 2032: Astute Analytica
These estimates come just weeks after the closure of the Heineken plant in Quang Nam, in central Vietnam which was big news with the provincial government set to lose out on VND 500 billion–or about US$19.8 million–in tax revenue each year. That is not to mention that a number of jobs will also likely be lost…
Japan noodle firm to invest US$87 million in northern Vietnam in 2027
Notably, Vietnam was among the top three markets for instant noodles globally over the three years ending in 2022, according to the World Instant Noodle Association. Vietnamese consumed approximately 8.48 billion packs of instant noodles in 2022 collectively or 85 packs per person…
What’s Happened to Vietnam’s Beer Market? Unpacked 2024
The closure of the Heineken plant in Quang Nam, in central Vietnam, announced a week or two ago, has been big news. This is off the back of slow growth in beer sales post-pandemic and in line with falling revenues among a number of Vietnam’s major beer brewers. This has been blamed on broader economic challenges and harsher drink driving penalties, however, it is all a little more nuanced than that…
Heineken to halt making beer at central Vietnam factory on declining sales
This is on the back of declining sales that the firm is attributing to broader economic challenges but also Decree 100 which reduced the allowed blood alcohol content when driving in Vietnam to zero. Decree 100 has repeatedly fallen into the cross-hairs of local alcohol producers, distributors, and retailers in Vietnam over the last year or so…
Korean Soju to be made in Vietnam from 2026
HiteJinro Group will join a slew of other well-known beverage makers with factories in Vietnam including Heineken, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi. These firms stand to benefit from not only a rapidly growing consumer market in Vietnam but also a number of benefits that come with manufacturing in Vietnam including low-cost labour and tax incentives…
Vietnam looking at introducing sugar tax on soft drinks
Dubbed the ‘sugar tax’ this has been raised several times in the past. The American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam came out against the idea back in 2018 arguing there was no evidence legislating a sugar tax would reduce consumption of sugary drinks. That said, a study on a similar tax in Mexico found that the consumption of sugary beverages fell 6 percent in its first year of implementation…
Vietnam ministry proposes 100 percent special consumption tax on alcohol
Of note, major beer makers in Vietnam, including the makers of the popular Beer Saigon and Beer Hanoi brands reported falling profits in 2023. A crackdown on drink-driving has partially been blamed alongside the pending increase in taxes on alcoholic beverages–though nothing has been confirmed and its not clear how a future tax increase might have influenced last years sales.
Several Starbucks have gone cashless in Vietnam
In terms of reducing the security risks associated with handling cash, this move by these Starbucks stores makes sense. As far as speed and convenience go, however, it’s not clear that this has been achieved. Of note, QR code transfers can sometimes take some time with multiple steps involved–logging to a bank account, scanning the code, approving the purchase etcetera.
Vietnam beer makers report fall in profits on DUI crackdown, alcohol tax
Major beer makers in Vietnam including the makers of the popular Beer Saigon and Beer Hanoi brands have reported falling profits in 2023, The Investor is reporting. The publication goes on to say this is due to a crackdown on drink-driving and a ‘pending alcohol tax’. On the latter, it’s
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