Big C helps Bac Giang lychees reach farther

Updated: 06:48, 23/06/2018

(BGO) – Central Group Vietnam has pushed the sales of Bac Giang lychees in the Big C supermarket chain both at home and abroad, aiming to promote and improve economic values of the province’s key product. To get an insight into the issue, reporters of the Bac Giang Newspaper had an interview with Le Mai Linh, Executive Vice President of Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility Department at Central Group Vietnam, the owner of Big C Vietnam.

Le Mai Linh introduces products at the Luc Ngan-Bac Giang lychee week 2018 in Hanoi.

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Would you tell us about Central Group Vietnam’s commitments to ensuring interests of consumers and producers in lychee consumption?

Firstly, it can be said that the volume and value of Bac Giang lychees this year have been assessed as the best ever, especially those produced under VietGap and GlobalGap standards. To improve the fruit’s values, we have rolled out communication programmes to promote the Bac Giang lychee brand name, making consumers willing to buy the product at a high price thanks to its quality and brand name.

What has the Bic C supermarket chain done towards consumers in big cities nationwide?

Central Group Vietnam has set up 35 Big C supermarkets in more than 20 cities and provinces nationwide. We planned to buy and sell lychees in the domestic market with a volume double that of last year, focusing on the northern and central regions.

We have chosen the best places in Bic C supermarkets to display Bac Giang lychees. Of note, this year we have introduced foods and drinks made from lychee to customers.

Luc Ngan lychees are put on sale at Big C Thang Long Supermarket in Hanoi.

As far as we know, Thailand is also a lychee producer and exporter that targets many countries worldwide. Why does Central Group Vietnam introduce Bac Giang lychees in this market?

2018 is the second consecutive year we have shipped Bac Giang lychees to the Thai market. The volume is expected to triple that of 2017, about six tonnes. Although Thailand also has lychees, our group has committed to contributing to the prosperity of Vietnam and living standards of Vietnamese people since the first days of operation. Therefore, promoting Bac Giang lychees abroad is part of the group’s efforts to fulfill its commitments.

We are confident in the strength of Bac Giang lychees, especially those grown in Luc Ngan district, which have unique features as compared to lychees in Thailand such as red skin, small seed and thick, sweet flesh.

In the first year, Thai consumers were curious about the taste of Bac Giang lychees and they only wanted to try the fruit. However, this year, Bac Giang lychees have been welcomed in Thailand with excitements of local consumers. This is a rosy sign for Bac Giang lychees.

What measures should Bac Giang province take to help its lychees gain a firm foothold in the Thai market?

To help Bac Giang lychee gain a firm foothold in Thailand and other markets, the province should preserve the fruit’s typical features which are connected with its history and geographical location, thus creating competitiveness for the product. The province should not be attracted by other factors.

The main features of Bac Giang lychees lie in quality and health benefits. Besides, Bac Giang should pay attention to applying cutting-edge technologies in all production stages, from planting to caring, harvesting, preserving, processing and ensuring food safety.

Another important factor is the communication work to promote the lychee brand name both at home and abroad.