Facilitate the supply of materials for instant noodle manufacturers

On August 6, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam, who leads the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's southern working group (970), chaired a working session with the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and the Ho Chi Minh City Food and Foodstuff Association to resolve issues regarding the availability of spices for instant noodle processing.

The Metropolis leader said at the meeting that instant noodle is regarded a necessary meal and one of the most needed products in people's life during the period of social distancing. Along with the primary components, makers of instant noodle packages must source a variety of additional ingredients directly from many spice suppliers, the majority of whom are situated in the city's surroundings. Meanwhile, these provinces are implementing social distancing order in accordance with Prime Ministerial Directive 16 resulting in difficulties in purchasing raw materials.

According to Ly Kim Chi, Chairman of the Association,  the output of Acecook and Vifon instant noodle is around 4 billion packs annually, accounting for 60-70 percent of the marketshare nationally in comparison to other brands. While Not only are Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control and the three on-site manufacturing protocol are emphasized during the social distancing order, instant noodle producers are also having difficulty obtaining spice sources.

To complete the package of instant noodles, production enterprises such as Acecook and Vifon previously purchased fresh chili from Tien Giang, Dong Thap, Cu Chi - Ho Chi Minh City (approximately 3,000 kg of fresh chili per day); fresh ginger, galangal, and lemongrass products from Dinh Quan, Dong Nai (over 1,000 kg per day); but they must now purchase these raw materials from Cu Chi w.

“Suppliers of raw materials to instant noodle makers are now faced with the prospect of having to abandon familiar suppliers in favor of new ones with higher purchasing costs but worse quality and the danger of raw material shortages are constantly present," Ly Kim Chi said.

Faced with the aforementioned issue, the Ho Chi Minh City leader suggested that Working Group 970 of the MARD coordinate with particular local administrations that provide raw materials to companies in order to agree on a buying strategy and facilitate delivery.

During the discussion, the deputy minister confirmed that spice supplies are plenty. The organization is prepared to help the Ho Chi Minh City Food and Food Association in connecting with suppliers.

While the Ho Chi Minh City leader proposed that, similar to the instant noodles chain, MARD would link agriculture and food supply networks to the city's other main industrial value chains in order to prevent supply chain interruptions in manufacturing.

By August 6, 811 focal points supplying agricultural goods and food had been registered with Working Group 970 of the MARD, comprising 214 vegetable points, 199 fruit points, 324 seafood points, 40 food points, and 34 other points.