It’s an exciting time for Vietnam’s food and beverage sector. Now that the country has come out of a challenging fourth wave of COVID-19 and is moving toward effectively “living with the virus,” restaurants, bars, hotels and malls across the country are pushing their doors open again.
But after all that has happened in 2021, how are Vietnam’s F&B industry players dealing with the changes and catering to new consumer demands? Besides reliable temperature checks and showing of vaccination proof, consumers need to feel safe when dining in restaurants or taking happy-hour shots through a contactless ordering process or an al-fresco dining option.
Online ordering helped keep many restaurants afloat. For deliveries, having their own websites or mobile apps or using already-established platforms can be a big help to maintain sales. A survey conducted by Google, Temasek and Bain & Company in November found that 65% of Vietnamese respondents reported increased use and spending through restaurant apps and already established platforms compared to pre-COVID. With the full lockdown in place during most of the second and third quarters of 2021, people relied on the likes of Baemin or Grab to get their supply of meat, fresh produce, and ready-to-eat meals.
Will these consumer trends remain in 2022, and how will industry players innovate in the face of new disruptions? How can the sector push forth sustainability in the entire supply chain to avert the impact of climate change on the sector?
To answer all these and give expert perspectives on the local industry’s future in the global culinary map, a new Vietnam Food & Beverage Conference will be held in February. The conference is part of Flavors Vietnam 2022, initiated by Vietcetera and Mastercard. Unlike the previous conference that was held only in Ho Chi Minh City, this year’s event will be in two locations on different dates: at Novotel Hanoi Thai Ha on February 11 and at Mai House Saigon Hotel on February 18.
Amidst the ever-changing situation of COVID-19 in Vietnam — particularly Hanoi’s new surge of infections — Flavors Vietnam aims to take the program nationwide. Vietcetera recently opened its Hanoi office, and bringing the conference to the capital city is just the first step of Vietcetera’s plans to bring Flavors Vietnam to bigger scales in the coming years.
During the conferences in Hanoi and HCMC, Mastercard will introduce its new seamless and cashless program that will be the highlight of Vietnam Restaurant & Bar Week scheduled in the coming months.
The program will also include keynote speeches by leaders from Marou, Faiseurs de Chocolat, Diageo, Good Food, The Lab, and many others. Topics ranging from creativity in dine-in spaces to the art of personalization in restaurants and bars, as well as food waste management will be the center of the discussions. Panel discussions and Q&A segments will follow the speeches.
Representatives from major e-commerce players will also talk about the role of e-commerce in diet trends and demands for the F&B sector, as well as on how companies can design promotions on e-commerce apps that target specific markets.
And as an exclusive treat for the participants, talented baristas from Lacàph will be holding a special “coffee experience” to showcase the best of Vietnamese coffee. There will also be a coffee bar to sample some of Lacaph products.
Interested in joining the Vietnam Food & Beverage Conference 2022? Buy tickets at 1.200.000 VND (VAT included) from the Vietcetera Store. Ticket price includes entry to the conference venue, lunch buffet, gift set and automatic invitation to the Vietnam Restaurant & Bar Awards 2022. Official ticket sales start January 22 until a day before the conference. Mastercard cardholders will have early access from January 19 to 21, and can receive a 15% discount.
Flavors Vietnam 2022 is the 3rd annual program hosted by Vietcetera and Mastercard that offers a variety of gastronomic activities to boost the local food & beverage industry, and to shine a spotlight onto Vietnamese F&B players for a stronger recovery after the pandemic.
The program commences in January and runs through April, featuring highlights such as Vietnam F&B Conferences, Vietnam Restaurant and Bar Awards, Vietnam Restaurant Week, Vietnam Bar Week, Rising Chefs Challenge, as well as original multimedia series dedicated to food (Khong Cay Khong Ve) and beverages (9PM).
The flagship event of Flavors Vietnam 2022 is the Vietnam Restaurant & Bar Awards, fondly called the #BanhMiAwards to celebrate Vietnam’s dedicated innovation of the restaurant and bar community, and to recognize key players and rising stars. Save your slot to attend the prestigious #BanhMiAwards on 19.02.2022!
Special thanks to all sponsors of Flavors Vietnam 2022: Mastercard, Diageo (owner of Johnnie Walker and Tanqueray), Lighthouse Group Indochina (exclusive distributor of Peroni and Super Bock), Good Food, Nestlé (exclusive distributor of San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna), Kamereo and Lacàph.
During the course of Flavors Vietnam 2022, Mastercard cardholders enjoy the privilege of an exclusive 15% discount for all event tickets.