Metro to develop integrated fish chain

German-invested wholesale chain operator Metro Cash & Carry looks set to build up a high quality integrated fresh fish chain for the Vietnamese domestic market.

The company on Wednesday organized a seminar to introduce a buying project for the Mekong Delta’s aquaculture produce and a METROGAP project in the domestic fish supply chain. Metro plans to set up a fish buying station in the Mekong Delta and launch METROGAP standards for domestic fish suppliers.

The seminar was to raise fish farm owners’ awareness of the need to improve the quality of their fish production and of the benefits the project will bring to them. Some 150 fish farm owners in the delta participated in the seminar.

The fish buying station is part of Metro’s fish platform project designed to strengthen its fish value chain to supply its customers good quality fresh fish that is produced in a sustainable way and processed under Metro’s international hygiene and food safety standards, according to the company.

“Direct sourcing is one of the key buying strategies of Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam that we have successfully developed in fruits and vegetables. Now is the fish,” Randy Guttery, managing director of Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam, said in a statement.

The fish platform project targets to supply fresh and high quality fish to the Metro wholesale centers throughout the country. The company is working with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to set up and develop METROGAP standards for fishery. A comprehensive training program on the Metro fish platform and METROGAP has been placed for 2,000 farmers.

The seminar also presented the company’s strategies for ultra fresh purchasing in which sustainable production and food safety and hygiene are focuses. The seminar also introduced the METROGAP standards and their implementation along the entire fish supply chain from farms to the Metro stores.

The company also has trained 20,000 farmers, including fish farmers, and certified thousands of farmers who supply quality products for Metro.

The company now has about one million registered customers.

Metro opened its first wholesale center in Vietnam in 2002. On Thursday the number of its stores has risen to 13 and they are located in HCM City, Hanoi, Haiphong, Danang, Can Tho, Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), Long Xuyen (An Giang), Quy Nhon (Binh Dinh), Binh Duong, and Vung Tau. In addition, it has two distribution platforms – one in Binh Duong and the other in Lam Dong. – Saigon Times

Tags: Metro Vietnam