"Blooming" safe food business

Consumers are increasingly concerned with choosing safe food.

In Nam Dinh city, grasping the psychology and increasing demand of consumers, a series of clean food and agricultural product stores have been put into operation. Walking along streets such as Hung Vuong, Tran Hung Dao, Hoang Van Thu, Phan Dinh Phung, Tran Phu, Tran Huy Lieu, Hang Thao, Quang Trung ..., you can see many stores with the brands "clean fruit", "clean food". In particular, the Vinmart store system has strongly developed to provide a large amount of food with clear traceability. According to the survey, these clean food stores are always committed to providing consumers with the highest quality fresh foods, from organic vegetables to fruits, regional specialties, meats of livestock and poultry raised by traditional methods without using industrial feed; Seafood is caught from nature and preserved by freezing without preservatives... Many stores also proactively apply quality certification stamps for agricultural products and VietGAP food products, helping customers feel secure when shopping.

With the appearance of clean food stores, many consumers have changed their shopping habits. Ms. Lam Hong, on Phu Nghia Street, said: “Instead of going to the market to buy food for every meal like before, I have long changed my habits by choosing food at clean food stores near my house. Here, the food has a clear origin, guaranteed quality, and fresh products are well preserved, so I feel very secure when using them.” As a housewife, Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan on Hang Cau Street is also quite meticulous in every meal. She said: “Food of unknown origin and poor quality is widely sold on the market, making housewives like me very worried. Therefore, I choose to buy food at clean food stores, which may be a bit more expensive, but the origin is clear, the products have been selected, so when preparing food for my children and grandchildren, I feel more secure and safe.”

In fact, clean food stores have partly met the people's demand for safe food. In addition to the advantages of clear origin of goods, stable prices, spacious and clean shopping space, neatly arranged and orderly goods, the stores also have a well-planned and strategic approach to customers; regularly have promotions, deep discounts, points to redeem gifts and many other attractive customer care services... Typically, the Clean Agriculture Association of the province has gradually built and developed a clean agricultural product introduction center with chain models of stores specializing in agricultural products and safe food. The Association has gathered dozens of member enterprises to cooperate, develop production, improve competitiveness and added value for key agricultural products in the province. Members of the Association have actively participated in value chain production linkage models and applied advanced product quality management programs in the fields of cultivation, livestock breeding, aquaculture, fisheries exploitation, and salt production to create clean agricultural products and food. Enterprises in the association also participate in the value chain linkage, have certificates for livestock and crop breeding that meet VietGAP standards, HACCP, CFS certification, etc. Hundreds of products of enterprises, production and business establishments in the agricultural sector in the province and enterprises outside the province are all guaranteed to be safe, have traceable origins, and attract a large number of people to buy with high consumption. Currently, the Provincial Clean Agriculture Association has expanded its stores to introduce clean agricultural products in major streets in Nam Dinh city. In addition, some private stores have also affirmed their brand in the market such as Linh Chi clean food store which has become a trusted address for many consumers in Nam Dinh city in recent years. The store is opened by an officer working at the Department of Science and Technology, all products have clear traceability stamps; products are granted OCOP certificates such as fruits, meat, fish, mushrooms, honey, essential oils so that consumers can feel secure in using them. With a stable and increasing number of customers at the store, it shows that the demand for clean food with clear origins of the people is very large today. Not only selling directly, the stores also sell online and deliver quickly to suit modern consumer needs.

In recent times, the Department of Industry and Trade has coordinated with relevant agencies and units to strengthen the dissemination of legal knowledge on food safety to raise awareness of food producers, traders and consumers on the habit of using safe food and food with clear origin. At the same time, a working group has been established to regularly inspect, monitor, and closely follow the direction and construction of safe food stores; coordinate food safety inspection and examination more closely and effectively to eliminate cases of self-proclaimed and spontaneous stores causing market disruption, creating sustainable trust for the people.

The establishment of safe agricultural products and clean food stores has partly met the demand and provided more choices for consumers as well as created output for agricultural products. However, organizations and individuals producing and trading safe food need to focus on building a brand with quality. Before bringing products to consumers, it is necessary to carefully research and survey market demand and customer psychology in each locality to have a suitable supply method, creating sustainable trust for customers.

Article and photos: Hong Minh

Source: https://baonamdinh.vn/kinh-te/202504/no-ro-kinh-doanh-thuc-pham-an-toan-82a2cc0/