Background

1983

Pursuant to Decision no. 73/QĐUB dated 15-Apr-1981 of People’s Committee of HCMC, District Five Direct Utilization Goods Export and Import Joint State Public and Private Partnership Company, abbreviated as Cholimex, was established.

In 1983-1985, Cholimex Seafood and Foodstuff Processing Company (Cholimexfood) – a member of Cholimex Group –  produced mostly for export, mainly raw-processed foodstuff, preliminary-treated frozen seafood and several agricultural products; its export turnover cover 70% of  the Group’s export turnover.

1985

Cholimex Food’s executive committee started carrying out research to produce chili sauce and several frozen food items such as spring roll, prawn on sugar cane, dried cuttlefish… in order to raise its competitive advantage and also to timely meet customer’s consuming demand.

1989

Until 1989 Cholimexfood had proved itself in chili sauce market by offering products with spicy and mild sweet taste, combine with garlic’s typical aroma; which well suited Vietnamese consumers’ appetite. However, production standard was still technologically backward: traditional equipment, millstone used for grinding, and manual sauce pouring.

2/ DEVELOP (1989 -2002)

1992

Until 1992 Cholimexfood had been equipped with the most advanced chili grinding device at that time funded by budget of People’s Committee of District 5, which raised the production capacity from under 10,000 bottles/day to approximately 30,000 bottles/day. In early 1990s Cholimex’s chili sauce was not only well-known throughout Vietnam but also exported to Eastern Europe countries, mostly Russian Federation, Poland and Ukraine through business networks of Vietnamese who had studied and worked in those countries. Export volume at that time reached 25-30 20’DC containers per month.

1994

In 1994, Cho Lon Investment and Import – Export Company promulgated Decision no. 03/QĐ-CT/94 dated 24-Jan-1994 which was to establish Cholimex Export Seafood and Foodstuff Processing Company – a subsidiary of Cho Lon Investment and Import – Export Company, whose headquarter located at 23 – 25 An Diem street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City.

1999

In order to implement the state’s industrialization policy, Cholimex Export Seafood and Foodstuff Processing Company started constructing new factory in the side of approximately 4 hectares within Vinh Loc industrial park.

2002

Cholimex Export Seafood and Foodstuff Processing Company thoroughly performed 3 plans at once: re-constructing human resource structure, computerizing its operations and setting up the quality management ISO 9001:2000. In this year, the whole factory was moved to newly built one in Vinh Loc industrial park and this event marked a new phrase in Cholimexfood’s history.
Later in the year 2002 the company was certified to meet the standard of quality management ISO 9001:2000, and not long after that it obtained food safety certification which allowed company to export its products to European Union. In addition, it also set up standards to comply with HALAL regulations for Islamic countries and Kosher regulations for Jew in order to diversify its export markets.
Domestic sales agent system was consolidated and expanded throughout the country, especially from South Central to Southern provinces.
Export markets were expanded with new production strategy – producing highly processed frozen food with high added values for EU market, cutting down and then gradually eliminating the production of preliminary-treated frozen seafood.
Product and market orientations throughout this period, together with company’s attempt to re-construct its own internal structure, provided concrete base for its further great development in next following years until present.

4/ EQUITIZE AND CONTINUOUSLY DEVELOP (2006 – PRESENT)

2006

In 2006 Cholimexfood was equitized. On 19-Jul-2006, It officially came into operation under new name as Cholimex Food Joint Stock Company. 6 years later since its equitization the turnover was 668.12 billion dongs in 2012 (of which export turnover was 220.12 billion dongs and domestic turnover was 448 billion dongs) in compare to 134.64 billion dongs of year 2007 (of which export turnover was 48.64 billion dongs and domestic turnover was 86 billion dongs), increased 500%. After-tax profit was reached 34.5 billion dongs, increased 690% in compare to year 2007 (5.01 billion dongs).

2009

The year 2009 was a milestone of Cholimexfood, which marked by its penetration to dipping sauce market, beginning with the launch of soy sauce product to domestic market.
Huong Viet soy sauce is produced by employing strictest filtering standards, ensuring free of 3-MCPD, and these factors contribute to create a pure, aromatic, naturally flavorful and healthful Huong Viet soy sauce. At present average consuming volume stays at nearly 2,000,000 bottles per month.

2012

Following the success of soy sauce, a fish sauce factory was built within company’s precinct. The introduction of Huong Viet fish sauce to the market had diversified company’s product range and well met customer’s demand.
It is certain to say that the completion and full operation of soy sauce and fish sauce factories were the combination of brainpower, effort, creation, diligence, striving-for-the-best spirit of Company’s executive committee and its employees, who always bear in mind the objective of adding brand name “Cholimex” into list of Vietnam’s top condiment and dipping sauce producer.

2018

In 2018, the company’s turnover reached VND 1,954 billion (equivalent to 2,412% of charter capital), representing a 21.8% growth compared to 2017. Post-tax profit reached VND 100 billion, a remarkable increase of 75.9% year-on-year. Consequently, Cholimex Food has solidified its position as one of Vietnam’s leading enterprises in the condiments, sauces, and frozen food industry. Cholimex Food’s products are currently available in 30 countries and territories, successfully penetrating world-renowned supermarket chains such as Marks & Spencer (M&S) in the UK; COOP and MIGROS in Switzerland; METRO and REAL in Germany; and Auchan, CORA, and Carrefour in France. Domestically, Cholimex Food holds a significant market share in the sauce and condiment sector. Through relentless innovation, the company annually introduces new products that capture traditional Vietnamese flavors with modern convenience—such as BBQ marinades, Char Siu sauces, braised fish and meat seasonings, and naturally fermented concentrated soy sauce. These products are increasingly popular in Vietnamese family meals while strictly adhering to international standards for global integration.

The 2020-2025 Period and Beyond

In 2020, Cholimex Food’s turnover surpassed the VND 2,000 billion mark, with pre-tax profits exceeding VND 200 billion. This achievement resulted not only from product innovation and creativity but also from the collective solidarity and relentless efforts of the entire team to overcome challenges and reach all strategic goals.

In line with this growth, Cholimex Food invested in its second factory at Vinh Loc 2 Industrial Park in My Yen Commune, Tay Ninh Province (formerly Ben Luc, Long An Province), spanning an area of 40,000 m². Following two years of construction (from March 2023 to March 2025), the factory was officially inaugurated in April 2025. It fully complies with quality management systems including ISO 9001:2015, ISO 22000:2018, BRC, HACCP, and ASC, as well as social responsibility standards such as ICS and SMETA. Furthermore, the facility meets European Union export standards with EU Code TS 1265 for the Frozen Food Processing Factory (capacity of 10,000 tons/year) and EU Code KL 1282 for the Cold Storage (3,000 pallet positions), alongside a Sauce and Condiment factory (capacity of 300,000 tons/year) and a dry warehouse with nearly 10,000 pallet positions.

Cholimex Food expects this new production space to serve as a cornerstone for future growth, positioning the company as a leader in the condiments and frozen food industry, while contributing to the nation’s economic development.

In 2025, turnover reached over VND 4,000 billion and pre-tax profit exceeded VND 350 billion, maintaining a double-digit average growth rate for ten consecutive years.”

After more than 40 years of establishment and development, Cholimex Food has become one of Vietnam’s leading enterprises in the condiments, sauces, and frozen food industry. Cholimex Food’s products are now available in numerous countries and territories worldwide. In the domestic market, the company continues to solidify its leading position in the sauce and condiment sector through a nationwide distribution network, a strong focus on e-commerce channel development, and by serving as a key supplier for many major global brands.

Through continuous innovation oriented toward sustainable development, Cholimex Food annually launches new products that capture traditional Vietnamese flavors while offering modern convenience. These products are tailored to the contemporary lifestyles of consumers, making them increasingly popular in Vietnamese family meals while simultaneously meeting international standards for global integration.