The event attracted around 40 enterprises engaged in agricultural production, processing, logistics, and trade, along with representatives from U.K. agricultural associations. Discussions focused on key export sectors, Vietnam’s poultry industry potential, consumer preferences, import-export regulations, and strategies for distributing Vietnamese food and produce in U.K. supermarket chains.
Participants also put forward recommendations to facilitate agricultural cooperation and improve market access for key export products from both countries.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.K. Do Minh Hung (L) address the roundtable discussion. |
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Tran Thanh Nam underscored the U.K.'s market potential and called for more regular business-matching events, the formation of supply chain-linked business clusters, and enhanced trade promotion and market research. He emphasized the need for both sides to ensure regulatory compliance in import-export activities.
Phuong Hoang, President of the Vietnamese Business Association in the U.K. (VBUK), noted growing interest among U.K. firms in reliable, high-quality, and sustainable agricultural supply chains. He highlighted Vietnam's strengths in fruit, seafood, and processed food exports, which are increasingly popular in global and British markets.
Executive Director of the British Coffee Association Paul Rooke praised the quality of Vietnamese coffee, especially robusta, and said it holds strong potential in the U.K.’s diverse and high-demand market. He stressed the importance of understanding U.K. import requirements, not just in terms of quality, but also environmental standards, anti-deforestation rules, and fair trade practices.
Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong, Product Development Manager at Longdan Group, one of the U.K.’s largest importers of Vietnamese goods, shared insights on marketing strategies, such as retaining local product names for better brand recognition. She emphasized combining digital marketing with in-store sampling to introduce Vietnamese specialty fruits to British consumers.
Thai Tran, CEO of TT Meridian Ltd, a leading importer of Vietnamese fresh produce, said Vietnamese brands and products like pomelo, coconut, dragon fruit, and passion fruit are now featured in major U.K. supermarket chains, including Waitrose, M&S, and Tesco. He credited the U.K.-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) for giving Vietnamese agriculture a competitive edge but warned that this advantage could diminish as the U.K. signs more bilateral trade deals, such as the recent agreement with India.
To maintain market share, Thai advised Vietnamese exporters to ensure consistent quality, upgrade technology, and manage costs to keep prices competitive. He also encouraged a focus on sustainability, environmental responsibility, and brand development, factors increasingly valued in the U.K.
Thai proposed that trade promotion agencies collaborate with major U.K. distributors to organize nationwide Vietnamese Product Weeks, extending from metropolitan hubs to rural areas, to enhance brand visibility and consumer familiarity.
The U.K., with an annual agri-food import value of USD 67 billion, is seen as a high-potential market. In 2024, Vietnam’s agri-export turnover to the U.K. reached nearly USD 883 million, a 15.4% year-on-year increase. Key Vietnamese exports, such as seafood, wood products, coffee, cashews, fruits, pepper, and handicrafts, match U.K. import demand. Meanwhile, Vietnam imports seafood, pesticides, feed ingredients, and rubber from the U.K. The two markets complement rather than compete with each other, leaving ample room for further expansion.
Source: VNA