Nutrition industry shows healthy growth in VN
Despite the continued slowdown in the economy, Vietnam's nutrition industry saw robust growth in the last 12 months, with local consumers still rating health as a major concern, behind the economy and job security, according to a recent report from market
The findings were released at a Nielsen’s Health and Nutrition Forum last week in Ho Chi Minh City.
The slowdown in the Vietnamese economy, with continued sluggishness in the real estate and banking market, has spread into 2013 and is still affecting certain industries.
Despite the efforts from the government, the International Monetary Fund has recently revised Vietnam growth numbers from 5.8 per cent to 5.2 per cent for 2013.
According to Nielsen, in spite of the softer economic numbers, certain categories perceived as healthy or nutritious by consumers were seeing double-digit growth.
The total Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) category, excluding beer, has seen 11 per cent volume and 15 per cent sales growth over a one-year period.
Growth in volume and sales of milk-based products has reached 19 and 22 per cent, respectively, compared with a year ago.
Vaughan Ryan, managing director of Nielsen Vietnam, said that strong numbers indicated the growing importance of health-conscious consumption, even in tougher economic times. He said the Vietnamese had a simple perception of healthy food, with 94 per cent agreeing that it should be safe or hygienic, along with 91 per cent stating it should be fresh.
Consumers perceive healthy food as products such as milk (90 per cent), low-cholesterol oil (73 per cent), and organic food (63 per cent), along with a few other dairy products, Ryan said.
Nielsen said the key factors Vietnamese considered when purchasing healthy food are sufficient nutritional ingredients (36 per cent), reduced risk of disease (25 per cent) and affordability (23 per cent), followed by other minor factors.
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