Hoa Nang

Hoa Nang Organic Agricultural Products Joint Stock Company operates in Vietnam's organic food sector, focusing on the production and distribution of certified organic rice and other agricultural goods. The company was co-founded by Lam Anh Tu and Dang Thi Truong An, who serves as the Executive Director. Their journey gained significant public attention in 2018 after an appearance on the television show Shark Tank Vietnam.

The founders' story is one of resilience. Initially holding only 6% of the company's shares, they faced a crisis when the majority shareholder, who held 94%, withdrew support after the show's broadcast. This left the company on the verge of collapse. However, their commitment to organic farming and a transparent business model attracted investor Louis Nguyen of Saigon Asset Management (SAM), who invested VND 10 billion despite the corporate restructuring. Dang Thi Truong An's background in finance was instrumental in establishing professional and transparent accounting practices from the beginning, a factor that proved crucial in securing subsequent funding.

Hoa Nang's business model is centered on a direct-to-consumer and business-to-business framework. It sells products through major supermarket chains like SatraFood and Vissan, online via e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Tiki, and its own website, and has also secured a major contract with a large dairy company. The company cultivates its organic products in the Thạnh Phú district of Bến Tre province, a coastal area in the Mekong Delta known for its shrimp-rice farming model. This location's semi-diurnal tide helps in naturally managing pests, reducing the need for chemical interventions. The company's products are certified organic under USDA (United States), EU (European Union), and JAS (Japan) standards, confirming they are produced without chemical pesticides, herbicides, or genetically modified organisms.

The primary product line consists of various types of organic rice, including brown rice, purple lứt rice, and Nàng Keo rice. Over time, the portfolio has expanded to include value-added products like organic rice noodles, rice cakes, and organic sugarcane molasses. A significant milestone was achieved in August 2023 when the company made its first official container export of organic rice to the US market. This expansion reflects a strategy to diversify its product range and increase the value derived from Vietnamese organic agriculture. The company has received further investments from gender-lens fund Beacon Fund and a loan from SK2, a US-based fund, to expand its cultivation areas and develop more high-value organic products.

Keywords: organic rice, Vietnamese agriculture, sustainable farming, Mekong Delta, food production, organic certification, direct-to-consumer, e-commerce, food export, value-added agricultural products, Shark Tank Vietnam, Saigon Asset Management, Beacon Fund, women-led business, organic food products, Thạnh Phú Bến Tre, rice cultivation, shrimp-rice model, USDA organic, EU organic, JAS organic, organic noodles, organic sugarcane molasses, US export