Supermarket goods are taking center stage.

Previously, when shopping, Ms. Pham Thi Hien from Ngo Quyen ward (Vinh Yen) had the habit of buying whatever was convenient, but now her mindset has changed after cases of counterfeit goods were discovered and handled by the authorities.

Instead of easily buying packets of sugar, MSG, or bottles of fish sauce and cooking oil at the end of the street or small grocery stores in the residential area, Ms. Hien now chooses to shop for products at supermarkets like Winmart, Go!, or Coopmart. Some fresh food items such as vegetables, pork, chicken, eggs, and tofu are also purchased by Ms. Hien from these retail chains.

Ms. Pham Thi Hien shared: “Recently, many brands such as Hiup milk, Omega 3-6-9 dietary supplements, Nysta, D-Vitum... have been counterfeited by authorities, showing that substandard products are not only numerous and diverse but also produced in a sophisticated manner, making it difficult for consumers to distinguish them. The production and business activities of these individuals are not clandestine but open, under the guise of large enterprises, causing consumers to fall into a maze of counterfeit goods.”

Go! supermarket in Vinh Phuc is always crowded on weekends.

Ms. Hien's thoughts reflect the sentiments of many consumers today, especially in the context of localities having just launched a campaign to combat and prevent smuggling, trade fraud, counterfeit goods, and intellectual property infringement.

According to data from the National Steering Committee 389, during the peak month alone, units and localities seized and handled nearly 11,000 cases of smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods, an increase of 79.34% compared to the month before the peak. This included the handling and dismantling of many serious and particularly serious cases involving the trading of counterfeit goods, suspected of infringing on famous trademarks, or trading in prohibited goods…

Mr. Pham Van Trung, from Tich Son ward (Vinh Yen), said: “Following the crackdown by authorities, counterfeit goods such as confectionery and dietary supplements are being secretly dumped in tons like garbage dumps by small traders, showing the seriousness of the current counterfeit problem. Therefore, during this time, my family often shops at supermarkets to ensure the quality of goods and food.”

The strong and decisive intervention of authorities against counterfeit goods has contributed to enhancing the standing of retail businesses. In reality, to secure a place on the shelves of supermarkets and retail chains, products from both domestic and international brands are rigorously selected by businesses, not to mention that manufacturers must provide complete invoices and documents proving their origin.

According to sales staff at Go! supermarkets, Coopmart, and Winmart retail stores, consumer spending has increased by 5-10% during this period. This indicates a shift in consumer trends towards branded products with clear origins. Responding to this consumer demand, businesses are also striving to offer special promotions and discounts to boost sales.

A representative from Go! Vinh Phuc supermarket stated: “Currently, 80-90% of the products at the supermarket are domestically produced goods with complete invoices and documents proving their origin, from household goods and essential items to processed foods. To stimulate consumer demand, on weekends, Go! Vinh Phuc implements many promotional programs to encourage the sale of Vietnamese goods across a wide range of products, from fresh and dried foods, confectionery, beverages, cosmetics, etc. The fresh food category, in particular, consists of Vietnamese products, strictly controlled for origin and guaranteed to meet food safety and hygiene standards.”

Many working-class people also choose mini-supermarkets and retail chains to have access to quality products.

In recent years, supermarkets and convenience stores have become increasingly competitive in the market, gaining an even greater advantage amidst the crackdown on counterfeit and fake goods by authorities. Shopping at supermarkets offers not only a wide variety of goods in terms of types and designs, but consumers also benefit from attractive promotions and discounts, along with attentive and enthusiastic customer service.

On the other hand, shopping at supermarkets gives people a sense of freedom and comfort in their choices, without fear of being overcharged by vendors who intentionally inflate prices. Moreover, the quality of goods and products is guaranteed by reputable and well-established businesses.

The widespread sale of counterfeit and substandard goods in the market not only directly damages the economy but also affects consumers and results in tax revenue losses for the state.

For manufacturing businesses, this problem is a barrier to their efforts to find new markets and develop their brands. Along with the decisive action of authorities, every citizen should be a wise consumer, knowing how to distinguish, choose, and use branded goods with clear origins to protect their own health and that of their loved ones. At the same time, manufacturing businesses also need to be creative in protecting their brands to reduce risks and economic losses…

Text and photos: Ha Tran

Source: http://baovinhphuc.com.vn/Multimedia/Images/Id/130389/Hang-hoa-sieu-thi-“len-ngoi”