Retail businesses accompany and support localities in consuming agricultural products

Sir, in recent years, MM Mega Market Vietnam is one of the retail enterprises that has had many activities to support the consumption of agricultural products in the domestic market. So what effect have those activities had in supporting the consumption of agricultural products? This year, what plans does the enterprise have to consume agricultural products in the distribution system in the domestic market?

Doanh nghiệp bán lẻ đồng hành, hỗ trợ địa phương tiêu thụ nông sản

Mr. Nguyen Anh Phuong - Head of Northern Region Operations - MM Mega Market Vietnam Co., Ltd.

Currently, 90% of MM Mega Market's goods are domestically produced. We are operating 5 transit stations to ensure the quality and freshness of products from growing and farming areas to localities across the country. These are the vegetable and fruit transit station in Da Lat; seafood in Hau Giang; 2 pork stations in Dong Nai and Hanoi ; and the vegetable and fruit transit point in Tien Giang. Through the transit stations, products from growing areas are delivered to the centers in a closed chain, in accordance with standards, and delivered to points of sale to serve customers.

Over the years, MM Mega Market has participated in supply-demand connection conferences organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade , the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and localities to seek sources of quality goods to bring into our consumption channels.

In 2022 alone, we successfully organized OCOP Goods Week in 3 major cities: Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, displaying more than 1,500 OCOP products, signing 28 memorandums of understanding with cooperatives and farmers to bring agricultural products to MM Mega Market centers nationwide.

We also organize Agricultural Fairs to sell products in big cities without profit by selling directly on trucks of local areas brought to the center, or selling in areas outside the center such as MM Mega Ha Dong or MM Mega Hoang Mai, which are very well supported by the people. Through this, goods easily reach the people, so that households and cooperatives can achieve the goal of product consumption.

In 2023, we will continue to organize OCOP weeks in major cities. At the same time, we will implement a wholesale price program with more than 40 products, from vegetables, fruits, pork, beef, etc. Every 2 weeks, customers can buy goods at wholesale prices according to the category.

For dry foods, we have implemented a Price Lock program, ensuring that for 3 months the prices of items in the center will not increase and only the prices will be reduced according to the market. For this program, we have worked early with suppliers to ensure supply and prices.

With these solutions, in recent years, the consumption of agricultural products, especially seasonal agricultural products, has increased year by year. In 2022 alone, we consumed more than 100 tons of fruits from the Mekong Delta, Tuyen Quang, Dak Lak; more than 40 tons of vegetables from Hai Duong, Dak Nong, Bac Giang. In 2023, we hope this output will continue to increase.

It is known that at supermarket stalls, Vietnamese agricultural products, especially seasonal specialties, are given priority to be displayed in the most beautiful locations, most accessible to consumers. So how do you see domestic consumers' affection and favor for Vietnamese agricultural products?

It is clear that consumers' affection for Vietnamese agricultural products is shown through two indicators, one is the steady growth of Vietnamese goods reaching 17-20%; seasonal agricultural products alone from 50-100%. That shows that more and more domestic consumers are consuming Vietnamese agricultural products.

Seasonal agricultural products are displayed in eye-catching locations at MM Mega Market for consumers to easily choose and buy.

Displaying in visible locations is also our intention because seasonal agricultural products have a very short consumption time, so displaying in eye-catching locations will increase the recognition of that product and consumers will know more clearly that this is a product with a clear origin.

I have noticed that consumer sentiment towards Vietnamese goods in general and Vietnamese agricultural products in particular has increased due to the impact of the Campaign for Vietnamese People to Prioritize Using Vietnamese Goods. However, in recent years, it has become more and more evident. Cooperatives and farmers themselves have also focused on improving quality by applying standards such as VietGAP and GlobalGAP. These standards will increasingly help consumers feel secure with the products and their affection for Vietnamese goods is correct.

Besides the advantages, after many years of accompanying Vietnamese agricultural products, what do you see as the weaknesses of Vietnamese agricultural products? What advice do you have for cooperatives and localities on how to better conquer Vietnamese consumers?

We see that the pressure of seasonal fruits is the short harvest time, some types must be consumed within 1-2 months, creating great pressure on the units participating in the supply chain, from users to suppliers, storage units and retail businesses. Therefore, we always have a plan to work with cooperatives and farmers in the short and medium term to ensure that the goods produced by farmers and cooperatives are consumed in the system. Partners will feel secure in planting and raising seasonal products when ensuring that the products are definitely consumed.

In addition, farmers and growers must also improve their knowledge of food safety, processing, packaging, and transportation so that goods can reach major consumption centers while still ensuring quality. Because these are the weak links of farmers. They often have the habit of selling directly to traders, leading to easy price pressure.

Working directly with farmers is a challenge for a consumer unit like us because there are many farmers, small-scale production, while the products brought to supermarkets must be guaranteed in quantity. Therefore, farmers should participate in cooperatives to ensure the quantity supplied to retailers. At the same time, ensure that when this product season ends, other specialties will be supplied, ensuring that the contract will not be broken.

In addition, if consumers have the habit of consuming Vietnamese agricultural products and consider them as daily food and drink, Vietnamese agricultural products will not have to worry about output. This requires the role of media agencies.

Thank you!

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