Bidrico has recently been honoured with the International Quality Crown Award in the Diamond category by the Business Initiative Directions (BID). This is a reward for the tireless efforts of the leaders and employees of Bidrico in the process of building and developing the company based on quality, prestige and pro-consumer benefit and health criteria. Vietnam Business Forum interviewed Mr Nguyen Dang Hien, CEO of Bidrico. Anh Dao reports.
How did you feel when Bidrico achieved this award?
This award is for worldwide businesses strongly committed to quality and excellence in technological innovation, with the new criteria “Building a better business reputation worldwide” held in London (UK).
In 2011, we were honoured to receive the International Star For Leadership in Quality Award in the Gold category. In 2012, Bidrico continued to add a new step with the award “Century International Platinum Quality Era Award”. In 2013, Bidrico was honoured to receive the “International Quality Crown Award in the Diamond category.” The award reconfirms the progress and effort of Bidrico on the beverage market today.
Actually, this was one of the most wonderful moments in my life. When I lifted the Quality Crown Award in the Diamond category in my hand, I could not hide my excitement and emotion. Especially, when looking at the scale and the worldwide candidacy, we know that this award is known to many countries in the world. Moreover, the 120 winners are well-established and well-reputed companies in the world. This makes us assured of this very prestigious and valuable award.
As the only beverage company in Vietnam to be honoured this way on the international arena for three consecutive years and awarded the highest title in 2013, what are the secrets of Bidrico’s success?
This honour makes Bidrico better known to international friends as a Vietnamese brand name with international standard, high quality products. Besides, this asserts the right vision of the company leadership in enhancing the management system, building technologically advanced production systems and meeting the very important criterion of ensuring product quality and improving the livelihood of employees.
Looking back on the company’s development since 2011, we found that operating principles and purposes of Bidrico coincide with many BID criteria like quality, technology, innovation and creativity, and this is also the basis for BID to award us. Perfect quality is a limitless commitment of Bidrico to customers and exceptional leadership is the decisive factor of Bidrico’s success. Especially, we always regard modern and advanced techniques as an indispensable means for innovation and commitment of limitless quality to customers and always renovate products to meet growing demands and requirements of consumers.
2013 was an economically and financially tough year with complicated developments. How did Bidrico overcome these difficulties?
Last year was a really tough year for the business community in general and beverage businesses in particular. To survive and grow, each had to struggle to find their own way.
Of course, Bidrico could not avoid difficulties because of rising input costs and unstable interest rates last year, while compensation for employees had to be maintained and even increased to retain qualified, skilled staff. And, the biggest challenge we faced was the fierce competition from beverages made by foreign-led joint ventures. However, despite the challenging context, Bidrico still managed to maintain steady growth of 12-15 per cent.
The above satisfactory results mainly came from Bidrico’s persistent investments for modern production lines to increase production quality and competitiveness. Specifically, in 2013, we invested US$1 million to renovate the entire production and equipment system to provide the market with high quality products to meet increasingly stringent demands of consumers. Particularly, in domestic market development, in response to the campaign “Vietnamese people give priority to made-in-Vietnam products”, the company expanded its distribution system to many areas in the country to bring its products to the countryside. The firm also particularly focused on boosting exports.
Although Bidrico products are dominating the low-end segment, the competition on the domestic beverage market is currently pretty stiff. So, with the import tariff reduced to zero when Vietnam enters the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, will your company face any obstacles?
2014 is seen to be another very difficult year. Vietnam’s participation in TPP is a great opportunity for local businesses, but this leads to the opening of the domestic market to foreign businesses, meaning that competition here will be fiercer. This challenge requires domestic businesses in general and Bidrico in particular to be ready to face all obstacles and make thorough preparations in every aspect right from now.
Could you tell us about your company’s strategic direction and your recommendations to authorities to help Bidrico in particular and its peers develop better?
To make the Bidrico brand on par with world-leading brands, it is not accidental at all but results from our strict compliance to an immutable principle “A good product is made from the best inputs.” Then, production and business activities of the soft drink industry in general and of Bidrico in particular develop effectively and sustainably.
From its achievements, Bidrico will focus on expanding its market in the future, particularly the export market. Especially when Vietnam enters TPP, the State must stay one step ahead and timely grasp new product quality trends and international practices to issue appropriate regulations to this effect to help exporters avoid unnecessary problems. If we can do this, I believe that Vietnamese enterprises are now dynamic, creative and flexible in all situations.
Đăng ký: VietNam News