Vinamilk Cooperation for the Future

Entering a co-operative agreement with three leading European partners at the same time, Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) not only strengthens its position as a leading nutrition company but also opens a new trend in improving research and scientific application of Vinamilk and of Vietnam, helping to deliver effective nutrition for Vietnamese children.

 

Vinamilk is cooperating with DSM (from Switzerland), Lonza (from Switzerland) and Chr. Hansen (from Denmark). These all are leading European nutrition groups with over 100 years of development and ownership of important scientific nutrition revolutions all over the world. These partners, which have been in close cooperation with Vinamilk during the past years, specialise in researching, developing and applying micro-substance and microbial science for Dielac Alpha, Dielac Mama and Ridielac. A delegation of specialists of the Vinamilk R&D department already paid a visit to factories and research centres of these three groups.

With annual turnover of approximately EUR 9.3 billion, DSM is indisputably a leader in the business. Almost all manufacturing facilities of its factory are controlled by computerised management system at the “Control centre.” All production stages are operated via systems of pipes. The vitamin manufacturing factory only with 40 staff and engineers can churn out 25,000 tonnes of product per annum, which provides adequate input for 2.5 billion cans of powdered milk.

 

Lonza factory and research centre with 114 years of development lies in a small town in a valley surrounded by the Alps, bordering Italy. This place is preferentially treated by Mother Earth with good weather all year around. Lonza has been known for 80 years for its researched and manufactured products.

 

Meanwhile, the research centre of Chr.Hansen in Denmark has over 20,000 types of different microbiological enzymes. Research is being conducted with a view to finding the best type of enzyme. The centre is a semi underground building. There is an engine simulating the digestion system of humans. This engine is “fed” daily in order to check operation of useful bacteria which are being studied. This is the very first step in the experimental process for a type of enzyme. It will then be tested on animals and humans.

 

“The growth strategy of Vinamilk is based on the understanding of nutritional demand of Vietnamese children, supplying international standard products which meet specific nutritional needs, and establishing a prestigious milk brand for Vietnamese consumers. This global co-operation helps to implement the aforesaid strategy,” says Ms Nguyen Huu Ngoc Tran, Marketing Director of Vinamilk.

 

Vinamilk entered a research co-operation agreement with Vietnam National Institute of Nutrition (VNIN) two years ago with a view to investigating the nutritional needs of Vietnamese children. The VNIN recently announced research results from more than 50,000 children aged 2 to 5 years nationwide. These results serve as a basis for Vinamilk to develop milk products appropriate for the growth of Vietnamese children.

“Our strategy is to research and develop new and specific milk formulas which meet international quality standards for Vietnamese children,” says Mr Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Managing Director of R&D and manufacturing centre of Vinamilk after the signing ceremony held in Zurich, Switzerland on 1 March 2011. “The co-operative agreement with these groups also aims at developing an international standard research team and recruiting personnel for the Vinamilk international standard research centre which is going to be established in the near future,” he added.