HCM CITY — Central Retail Vietnam connected with around 200 potential suppliers from across Việt Nam to expand its domestic product range ahead of the year-end festive shopping season at a supplier-demand matching programme in HCM City on October 9.

The retailer, in collaboration with the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade, organised the programme, bringing together businesses, cooperatives and producers from 12 provinces and cities.

Participants from Đắk Lắk, An Giang, Đồng Tháp, Lâm Đồng, Tây Ninh, Nghệ An, Cà Mau, Quảng Ngãi, Huế, Lạng Sơn, Hà Nội and HCM City introduced their products and production and processing processes, and took part in one-to-one meetings with Central Retail’s procurement teams for fast-moving consumer goods and fresh food.

Potential suppliers included Phú Gia Hưng Trading Production Co Ltd (Đắk Lắk), Trading and Services Cooperative in Đắk Lắk, Lâm Chấn Âu Tea and Coffee Co Ltd in An Giang, Atiso Hoàng An Đà Lạt Co in Lâm Đồng, Kim Long High-Tech Agricultural Cooperative in HCM City, Trà My Natural Products Co Ltd. in Huế and Highland Herbs Co Ltd (Quảng Ngãi).

The event laid the groundwork for Central Retail’s procurement teams to negotiate contracts with potential partners, expanding the range of Vietnamese goods available to shoppers and meeting rising demand during the year-end holidays and Tết (Lunar New Year).

Paul Le, vice president of trade promotion at Central Retail Việt Nam, said Vietnamese goods accounted for more than 90 per cent of the products on the retailer’s shelves.

“These products not only meet domestic demand but also offer export potential through our international retail network and partnerships,” he said.

He added that meeting quality standards and securing shelf space in the supermarket system could also help businesses participate in the Responsible Green Tick programme launched by the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade.

The programme allows suppliers to demonstrate their commitment to product quality to distributors and consumers, helping strengthen their position in the market, he said.

Nguyễn Minh Hùng, deputy head of the department’s Commercial Management Division, said product quality control was a growing priority for major retailers.

“Central Retail is one of 12 retailers driving the Responsible Green Tick quality-control cooperation programme. Businesses pitching their products to distribution channels stand a significantly higher chance of entering modern retail networks like Central Retail if they intend to participate in the Responsible Green Tick programme from the outset,” Hùng said. — VNS