Sao Ta Foods: Three Decades of Impressive Growth and Achievement

“Consumption of more than 300,000 tons of finished products, export turnover of nearly US$3.3 billion, and pre-tax profit of nearly VND3,300 billion (US$132 million),…” are impressive figures reflecting the 30-year journey of Sao Ta Foods Joint Stock Company. This success is not the result of luck or coincidence, but of strong internal capabilities and “soft power” forged through challenges, elevating Sao Ta to the position of one of Vietnam’s leading seafood processing and export enterprises.

Sao Ta Foods is named among Vietnam’s Top 100 Sustainable Businesses 2025 by VCCI for the sixth consecutive year

Sao Ta Foods Joint Stock Company originated as a wholly state-owned enterprise under former Department of Finance and Administration of the People’s Committee of Soc Trang Province (now Can Tho City) and officially commenced operations on February 3, 1996. Over 30 years of volatility, by leveraging its strengths and seizing opportunities for sustainable development, Sao Ta has steadily overcome numerous challenges and grown into a reputable enterprise in seafood production, processing, trading, and import-export in Vietnam, with a strong foundation in two major markets: Japan and the United States.

Sao Ta’s current position and brand reputation are reflected in compelling figures and notable achievements. Over 30 years of operation, the company has consumed more than 300,000 tons of finished products, generated export turnover of nearly US$3.3 billion, and recorded pre-tax profits of nearly VND3,300 billion (US$132 million). Profit margins have increased steadily, rising from 1.5% in the early years to a stable level of around 6% today. This performance shows that, alongside cost-reduction efforts, the Sao Ta brand has strengthened its market position, achieved better selling prices, and enhanced its competitiveness. At present, Sao Ta’s shrimp processing capabilities rank among the leading in Vietnam, enabling its products to be widely supplied to major restaurant chains and large distribution systems both domestically and internationally.

After three decades in a volatile seafood industry, Sao Ta has consistently recorded net profits year after year. Employee income has increased steadily and now averages more than VND11.6 million (US$464) per person per month - the highest level among peer companies. Sao Ta’s success is not the result of chance, but of strong internal capabilities and corporate “soft power,” built on a solid corporate culture, dynamism and creativity in overcoming challenges, a clear operating strategy, and a strong commitment to sustainable development. These factors have enabled Sao Ta to build trust with partners and customers, achieve sustained success, and establish itself as a strong brand in Vietnam’s seafood processing and export industry.

Specifically, regarding corporate culture, Sao Ta has established a solid cultural foundation with core values of SERVICE - SUSTAINABILITY - SHARING. These core values have spread throughout the organization, contributing to distinctive strengths and competitive advantages in the company’s products.

Alongside its strong corporate culture, the value of the Sao Ta brand also lies in its pioneering spirit and its dynamic, creative ability to overcome challenges. This strength is most evident in critical situations that require agility and flexibility in responding to unpredictable market changes. It was particularly apparent in 2025, when the shrimp export sector - especially shipments to the U.S. market - faced multiple challenges, including reciprocal tariffs imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump, anti-dumping lawsuits, and countervailing duty cases.

Anticipating these risks, Sao Ta proactively set aside provisions for anti-dumping and countervailing duties on revenue from U.S. sales. At the same time, from 2020 to the present, the company has implemented a range of market strategies to reduce risk and avoid “putting all eggs in one basket.” These measures include investing in deep processing to strengthen competitiveness and ease pressure from low-priced shrimp from India and Ecuador, as well as shifting focus from the traditional U.S. market to developing high-potential markets in Asia, particularly Japan.

Discussing this creative market-shifting strategy, Mr. Ho Quoc Luc, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sao Ta Foods Joint Stock Company, said that Japan is a market where Sao Ta can leverage its strengths in high-end, deeply processed products while minimizing business risks due to geographic proximity and the absence of direct competition with low-priced shrimp from India and Ecuador. “Currently, the U.S. market accounts for 33% of Sao Ta’s total export value, Japan accounts for 28% (Sao Ta is the largest Vietnamese shrimp exporter to Japan), the UK accounts for 17%, Europe accounts for 4%, and the remainder comes from other markets. If exports to the US encounter difficulties, we will step up penetration into other promising markets such as Canada, Australia, South Korea, and especially Japan - where Sao Ta enjoys a very strong competitive advantage. In addition, China is also a highly potential market that we are closely monitoring and ready to enter when conditions are favorable,” Luc affirmed.

Over 30 years of development, Sao Ta has consistently been a strong brand, ranking among the top in the seafood processing and export industry in general and in shrimp supply in particular. To achieve this success, the company has focused on building clear operating strategies, each with its own priorities and defining the core direction of operations for each five-year period. Specifically, during the 2010-2015 period, Sao Ta focused on improving product quality; from 2015-2020, it accelerated processing output and consumption; and from 2020-2025, it moved deeper into sustainable development, emphasizing the strengthening of corporate culture, upholding business ethics, and fulfilling corporate social responsibility. All of these strategies have been successfully implemented and have left lasting marks. On that foundation, the Sao Ta brand has continued to enhance its reputation through high and consistent product quality, on-time delivery, accurate order fulfillment, and effective after-sales service. These are outstanding strengths and key competitive advantages that set Sao Ta apart from other companies in the industry. Entering the new 2025-2030 period, the company plans to focus on expanding aquaculture activities, including research on shrimp broodstock, while leveraging strengths and achievements from previous strategies to elevate Sao Ta to the position of one of the top two shrimp enterprises in Vietnam.

With stable growth and a long-term commitment to sustainable development, Sao Ta is one of the few seafood processing and export enterprises recognized by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and relevant authorities as being among Vietnam’s Top 100 Sustainable Enterprises for six consecutive years from 2020 to 2025. Notably, Sao Ta has been honored with the title of “Labor Hero in the Renovation Period,” along with many Labor Orders.

The three-decade journey of development has established Sao Ta as a well-managed enterprise with clear strategies and a well-defined path toward long-term sustainability. Entering a new phase, with The PAN Group as its partner, Sao Ta has gained greater confidence and momentum to continue advancing, deliver stronger results, and achieve even more significant milestones.

Van Luong (Vietnam Business Forum)