In the context of a still volatile economy, a double-digit growth target is being set for many sectors, including food. However, to achieve this expectation, one cannot just rely on one industry or a single factor, but requires synchronous coordination between policies, the market and the internal strength of the business.
Talking to the press, Mr. Trinh Ba Cuong - General Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Food and Foodstuff Association said that in 2025, the processed food industry achieved a growth rate of about 11%. In the first 3 months of 2026, the industry continued to record an impressive increase of about 13%. Total consumer value in 2025 is estimated to reach about 1,400,000 billion VND, of which spending on food accounts for 44.6%. These figures reflect the stable demand of the market, especially in the context that food needs are always essential.
Overall, the industry is still expected to maintain double-digit growth this year, although the specific increase depends on geopolitical developments. If the Middle East conflict ends soon, production activities will quickly stabilize, thereby helping to control costs - a factor directly affecting consumer spending.
In addition, with a domestic market of more than 100 million people and the goal of welcoming about 23-25 million international visitors this year, food consumption demand is forecast to continue to be maintained at a high level, creating more momentum for growth.
Despite having a lot of development potential, the major problem of the industry today lies in deep processing capacity, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Kim Anh, Member of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Food Science and Technology Association, said that businesses are currently facing difficulties in accessing modern technology.
While universities and research institutes have been invested in a systematic laboratory system, small businesses lack resources to build their own research and development (R&D) infrastructure. This limits the ability to improve product value.
For example, instead of exporting raw turmeric with low value, it is entirely possible to extract curcumin - a high-value biological active ingredient, with prices up to hundreds of USD/kg. However, to do this, businesses need both capital, technology and high-quality human resources, factors that most small businesses still lack.
Reality shows that the gap between "producers" and "researchers" is still quite large. Businesses have difficulty accessing technology, while many research topics have not found outlets for application. Therefore, it is necessary to promote closer linkages, in which research activities must originate from the actual needs of businesses to increase the possibility of commercialization.
In addition, the role of the State is a key factor. Support policies such as co-funding research, tax incentives, loan support or creating conditions for technology transfer will help businesses shorten the gap with deep processing technology.
From a promotional perspective, Ms. Cao Thi Phi Van - Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Trade and Investment Promotion Center (ITPC), said that the double-digit growth target is a challenge but has a basis for achieving it.
According to her, growth does not come from an isolated factor but needs a synchronous contribution from policies, support systems and especially the internal efforts of businesses. This is a decisive factor in the context of increasing competition.
We will continue to accompany the Ho Chi Minh City business community, especially in the food sector, through practical support activities to promote growth," Ms. Van emphasized.
Experts also believe that the important thing is steadfastness with goals and step-by-step implementation. When businesses proactively improve capacity, researchers provide appropriate solutions, and the State creates a favorable policy corridor, the overall strength will be promoted.
In the context of stable consumer demand and large market space, if the bottlenecks in technology and linkage are well addressed, the double-digit growth target is not only feasible in the short term but also creates a foundation for sustainable development.
