Recognising that boostingdomestic consumption is one way to raise their products’ added values,domestic coffee makers have tried to outdo one another by introducingtheir own new products.
In late April, G7-X2, the latest product from Trung Nguyen coffee made its debut.
Also in April, the Passio Coffee chain opened another shop in Ho ChiMinh City , raising its total shops nationwide to 11.
Even retailer Saigon Co.op has released a new three-in-one instantcoffee under the Co.op Mart brand. Co.op Mart Deputy General DirectorNguyen Thanh Nhan said the demand for instant coffee is increasing andCo.op Mart had a chance to cooperate with the supplier to launch its ownbrand.
Experts predict that domestic coffeeconsumption will increase sharply, contributing to gradually reducingraw material export and promoting coffee processing, therefore raisingthe value of domestic coffee.
Statistics from theInternational Coffee Organisation (ICO) show that Vietnam ’s coffeeconsumption continues to increase, from 48,000 tonnes in 2005 to 94,980tonnes in 2011.
The increase is the result of European-styled coffee brands’ marketing strategies and users’ positive response.
However, according to ICO, Vietnam ’s annual coffee consumption percapita of 1.08 kg remains low, compared to that of Brazil (5.2 kg),the EU (4.83 kg) and the US (4.13 kg). This means big opportunitiesremain for Vietnamese coffee producers.-VNA