The "Vietnamese Goods Day" program has been launched at the Selgros Berlin Lichtenberg wholesale center, as part of a series of promotional activities surrounding Fruit Logistica, the world’s leading international fruit and vegetable trade fair.
This event is a collaborative effort between the Vietnam Trade Office in Germany, the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association (Vinafruit), and Selgros.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Dac Thanh emphasized that showcasing products directly within a supermarket environment represents a "golden opportunity."
It not only introduces German consumers to tropical fruits but also allows Vietnamese businesses to engage directly with supermarket procurement departments and German importers, said Mr. Thanh.
The growing presence of Vietnamese fruit in Germany is no coincidence, but rather the result of a persistent shift in production mindset.
According to Chairman of Vinafruit, Nguyen Thanh Binh, since 2010, Vietnam's fruit and vegetable industry has maintained an average annual growth rate of 20% to 25%. Currently, Vietnamese produce is exported to over 80 countries, with major markets including China, the United States, South Korea, Japan, and the European Union, specifically Germany.
"Vietnam is restructuring its agricultural production with a focus on advanced and modern processes such as VietGap and GlobalGap," said Mr. Binh, expressing confidence that German consumers would be satisfied with Vietnamese produce and continue to support these products, further strengthening Germany-Vietnam trade ties.
Vietnamese Trade Counselor in Germany, Ms. Dang Thi Thanh Phuong, said that fruit and vegetable export turnover reached over $60.17 million, an increase of nearly 40% compared to 2024. However, she frankly pointed out that this figure still represents a very small fraction of Germany's total demand, meaning there is immense room for future expansion.
While German consumers are already familiar with Vietnamese staples such as coffee, seafood, tea, and spices, many other products, particularly fresh tropical fruits, have yet to achieve widespread popularity. The Trade Office expressed its hope that through such events, German associations and procurement enterprises will become more aware of these products and help introduce them to wider distribution networks.
Mr. Mario Berger, Managing Director of Selgros Lichtenberg, noted that the Selgros hypermarket system already distributes several Vietnamese items, ranging from seafood to fresh fruits like dragon fruit and passion fruit.
Sharing future plans, Mr. Berger revealed: "The supermarket has expanded its Asian pavilion, and Selgros is planning to import Vietnam’s ST25 rice while considering the possibility of bringing even more Vietnamese agricultural products to our shelves."
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