For the first time, snakehead fish porridge (banh canh ca loc), a specialty dish from Quang Tri, is being exported in large quantities. Ca Men’s snakehead fish porridge has also received FDA (Food and Drug Administration) certification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
On June 13, 2023, in Ho Chi Minh City, startup Ca Men and LNS International Corporation signed an exclusive distribution agreement for Quang Tri snakehead fish porridge and other packaged products from Ca Men in the U.S. market.
This marks the first large-scale official export of banh bot ca loc (snakehead fish porridge), a specialty from Quang Tri. Currently, Ca Men’s snakehead fish porridge has been certified by the U.S. FDA.
LNS will handle the sea transportation and distribution of Ca Men’s snakehead fish porridge and other products in the U.S. market. It is expected that LNS will distribute millions of Quang Tri snakehead fish porridge products annually.
More About Ca Men
Ca Men is a startup founded in 2015 by Nguyen Duc Nhat Thuan with the aim of bringing Quang Tri cuisine to various regions. To date, Ca Men has provided millions of delicious, high-quality meals with the distinctive flavors of Quang Tri, such as Phuong Lang steamed rice cakes, snakehead fish porridge, duck porridge, shredded chicken with Vietnamese coriander, and stir-fried eel vermicelli.
June 2022 marked a significant milestone for Ca Men, as it expanded its operations to include both in-house dining and packaged products. Ca Men introduced packaged snakehead fish porridge weighing 230 grams, which is compact and convenient.
The packaged snakehead fish porridge includes ingredients such as whole snakehead fish filets, rice noodles, concentrated broth, satay sauce, and dried scallions, designed to create a bowl of porridge rich in Quang Tri flavors.
A New Frontier
“Snakehead fish porridge is the first Quang Tri dish to be packaged and exported to demanding markets like the U.S., Australia, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Additionally, Ca Men has 10 distribution agents in the domestic market,” Nguyen Duc Nhat Thuan shared.
Thuan noted that in the current challenging economic climate and declining exports, having a large export order is a positive sign for startups like Ca Men. This not only creates jobs for Ca Men’s staff in Ho Chi Minh City but also supports farmers in Quang Tri who supply the company. It also provides motivation for other startups in the manufacturing sector to overcome difficulties and seek international orders.
Nguyen Thi Kim Huyen (Jolie Nguyen), Chairman and Founder of LNS, stated that with its expertise in international trade and import-export, LNS is expanding its diverse range of quality, nutritious, and convenient products to meet modern consumer trends, serving customers both domestically and internationally, particularly in markets where LNS operates, such as Vietnam, the U.S., Japan, New Zealand, and Italy.
According to Ms. Huyen, the strategic partnership between Ca Men and LNS is a significant milestone that will help LNS fulfill its mission of bringing Quang Tri specialties closer to Vietnamese people in the U.S. and other countries.
About Ca Men and LNS
Ca Men operates at 27B Hoa Su Street, Ward 7, Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, a location within the Phan Xich Long culinary district. Ca Men was established with the mission to “bring Quang Tri to every corner” by providing delicious meals and specialties from Quang Tri to various locations. Snakehead fish porridge is the first Quang Tri dish to be packaged and exported to demanding markets such as the U.S., Australia, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
LNS International Corporation expanded its operations internationally based on the foundation of LNS Vietnam, established in 2008 (Luong Nguyen Services JSC). LNS now has offices in key countries such as Italy (Europe), New Zealand (Australia), Japan, and the U.S. since 2018.
LNS International Corporation prioritizes the development of specialty products from Vietnam, focusing on agricultural products that are traditional, natural, and safe for health. LNS products are available in over 1,000 supermarkets and food chains, with 42 trucks operating cross-state each week, bringing Vietnamese products closer to consumers in the U.S., especially the Vietnamese and Asian communities.
