Hanoi (VNA) –🍷 The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and food industries are not only pillars of the economy, they are also a direct reflection of people’s living standards. As the digital economy and omnichannel commerce reshape global value chains, strengthening competitiveness has become an urgent, even vital, necessity for domestic businesses in this sector.
This was the core message delivered at a seminar on enhancing the competitiveness of FMCG and food businesses in the context of digital transformation and omnichannel trade, hosted by Cong Thuong (Industry and Trade) newspaper in Hanoi on June 25.
Rapid turnover
FMCG refers to essential items such as food, beverages, and personal hygiene products – goods that consumers purchase quickly and frequently. They have short usage cycles and fast inventory turnover, allowing businesses and retailers to maintain a constant cash flow. Their inherent market sensitivity also makes them effective indicators of consumer behaviour shifts.
Tran Dieu Huong from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Agency for Domestic Market Surveillance and Development, said that from 2021 to 2024, Vietnam’s FMCG retail sales posted average annual growth of 10%. Meanwhile, the GDP expanded 7.09% in 2024, with projections suggesting it may rise by 8% in 2025. Simultaneously, modern retail systems and e-commerce have seen sharp growth. E-commerce increased over 22% last year and is expected to account for 10% of total retail sales this year.
The MoIT highlighted that the FMCG sector contributes significantly to overall retail sales and directly affects social stability and consumption security. A robust market of this kind, it said, helps secure stable and high-quality supply for the population.
Delegates share insights to help businesses seize new growth opportunities. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Nguyen Tien Cuong, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Cong Thuong, noted that several macro trends are shaping today’s consumption landscape, including a marked shift towards “green-clean-healthy” products, rising demand for traceability and quality assurance, and the boom of e-commerce.
To remain competitive, he stressed, enterprises must embrace new technologies, foster innovation in management, invest in digital transformation, and build modern distribution systems.
The pitfall of short-term thinking
In 2024, Vietnam counted 1,293 supermarkets and 276 commercial centres nationwide. Traditional markets, numbering 8,274, continue to play a crucial role in retail, especially in rural and remote areas, serving as the primary channel for everyday commerce.
At the same time, the omnichannel retail model integrated with cashless payment systems are being adopted widely by FMCG firms. Consumers can now shop across multiple platforms – physical stores, websites, and mobile apps.
For modern retailers, e-commerce is no longer just an emerging sales channel but a core component of business strategy, said Dao Thanh Tung, Director of e-commerce at LOTTE Mart Vietnam. He noted that the country now ranks second in Southeast Asia for e-commerce growth, with digital user penetration exceeding 60%.
Tung underscored retailers must not only build a solid technological foundation but also overhaul their entire operational ecosystems. This includes long-term investment cycles (a minimum of 3–5 years), end-to-end synchronisation of enterprise resource planning (ERP), logistics, customer management, and data. Just as crucial is human capital; staff must be trained not only in technical skills but also in digital-era customer service mindset.
Foreign enterprises join hands with Vietnamese firms to pursue shared development goals. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Sharing her insights at the event, Doan Trang Ha Thanh, Chief Operating Officer of eCommerce platform Lazada Vietnam, highlighted the importance of sustainable operations on digital platforms, greater digitalisation in logistics and the scaling-up of livestream sales.
Digital distribution not only shortens processing times and reduces operating costs but also expands market reach, especially for perishable items like fresh food. This, she explained, enhances competitiveness and enables businesses to grow at scale.
To support the sector, the MoIT and other relevant government bodies are working to refine legal frameworks for livestreaming and multi-platform e-commerce. They are also pushing for targeted policies to assist small enterprises and rolling out training programmes on digital technologies and business management./.
Circular economy is becoming an inevitable trend and taking place strongly in many countries around the world, including Vietnam, as the transition from the traditional linear economy to a circular economy is considered an effective solution, helping to maintain economic growth and development as well as minimising negative impacts on the environment.
Economic outlook, demographic transformation and changing consumer trends are among macro shifts reshaping Vietnam’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) landscape, according to marketing data and analytics company Kantar Worldpanel.
On a global scale, verification and traceability are among the top criteria that businesses must maintain to ensure credibility, enhance competitiveness and meet stringent international trade standards.
After a challenging first quarter, during which many companies recorded losses, the Vietnamese cement market has experienced a remarkable recovery, with several firms unexpectedly reporting substantial profits in the second quarter of 2025.
The Party leader said Vietnam is continuing to improve its institutions, enhance the investment and business environment, and address bottlenecks to unlock resources and push ahead with economic restructuring in tandem with renewing the growth model.
Export value to Thailand reached 33 million USD in the first six months, accounting for 10% of Vietnam’s total squid and octopus export revenue and making Thailand the country’s fourth-largest single export market.
Large-scale projects invested by Korean investors in strategic sectors such as semiconductors and energy are poised to give a strong boost to foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Vietnam, creating momentum to attract more high-value projects from global investors.
The recent administrative merger offers a unique opportunity to establish a unified and synchronised logistics system, turning the Southeastern Key Economic Region into a high-performing hub for trade, investment, and marine economy.
Vietnam’s state budget revenue from import-export activities reached over 261.37 trillion (9.97 billion USD) in the first seven months of 2025, equivalent to 63.6% of the annual estimate and 55.6% of the targeted goal, marking a 9.1% increase year-on-year, the Department of Customs reported.
Experts warned that excessive capital concentration in high-risk sectors like real estate and securities, risks of imbalances and non-performing loans could increase.
Demand for durians in the Chinese market is surging, prompting growing interest among importers in seeking supply from Vietnam. With its geographical proximity, short transport time and distinctive flavour, Vietnamese durian is highly regarded for both quality and long-term growth potential.
EVN leaders said CMIS has advanced to version 4.0 over the past two decades, fully digitising operations and customer services while handling data for over 32 million clients and processing hundreds of millions of transactions each year.
With a combined market of over 370 million consumers, Vietnam and Indonesia leverage agricultural strengths: Vietnam leads in rice exports, while Indonesia dominates palm oil and coffee and is advancing toward rice self-sufficiency. Key cooperation opportunities span sustainable fisheries, hi-tech farming, agricultural science innovation, integrated value chains, and market access.
In the first seven months of this year, retail sales of goods were estimated at approximately 3.05 quadrillion VND, accounting for 76.4% of the total revenue and rising by 7.8% compared to the same period last year.
Under the agreement, customers will enjoy tailored financing solutions, including attractive interest rates, flexible repayment options, 100% on-road funding, exclusive offers and priority services - applicable across VinFast’s entire product portfolio. Dedicated HDFC Bank representatives will be available at all VinFast showrooms to provide on-site support, making EV ownership more accessible and convenient for a wider range of Indian consumers.
Foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Ho Chi Minh City rebounded strongly in the first seven months of 2025, reaching nearly 6.2 billion USD, up 45.67% year-on-year after a slowdown last year.
To meet the ambitious annual target of 47–48 billion USD, the sector must now achieve monthly exports of over 4 billion USD during the remaining months of the year.
The Airbus A321NX is the first in a fleet of eight modern aircraft scheduled for delivery and operation throughout 2025, marking the beginning of Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ carefully planned investment strategy to build a modern fleet operating with safety, stability, and world-class standards.
Experts say that after over a decade of implementation, the credit growth quota policy is currently inappropriate and is criticised for creating an “ask and give mechanism”, hindering people and businesses from accessing bank loans.
