With her passion and creativity, Vo Thi Hanh Dung, residing in Hoa Khanh Bac Ward, Lien Chieu District, Da Nang, has increased the value of herring, bringing her products closer to consumers and creating many jobs for local people with stable incomes.

With her passion and creativity, Vo Thi Hanh Dung, residing in Hoa Khanh Bac Ward, Lien Chieu District, Da Nang, has increased

While studying healthcare and later working as a physician, Hanh Dung developed an interest in herring, a fish rich in nutrients, good for brain development, and supporting mental and nervous system enhancement.

After researching and verifying in practice, she came up with the idea and determination to develop herring products, aiming to provide local fishermen with a stable market, create jobs for women, and spread the quality of herring products to parents raising young children and other customers.

Her goal was to develop an innovative startup model from herring, promote women's participation in startups, protect the environment, and produce high-quality herring products in a bid to enhance the value of the local seafood processing industry and create jobs for the community.

Hanh Dung shared that her idea came from witnessing fishermen catching herring arduously but selling them at very low prices for animal feed, despite their high nutritional value. She couldn't stop thinking about it and spent many sleepless nights looking for a solution. She finally succeeded and planned to increase the value of herring, a local specialty, and build a brand and community values.

To ensure raw materials, Dung signed contracts to purchase all herring caught by 23 boat owners, with an estimated annual output of 60 to 70 tonnes.

Nguyen Tan Chau, a supplier of herring to Hanh Dung, mentioned that before signing the contract with her, he used to sell herring at very low prices and sometimes couldn't sell all of it. Since signing the contract, he no longer worried about finding buyers, and the stable prices have improved his family's life.

Ho Thi Ngoc Hien, one of the 20 workers at the 43Foods Green Food Cooperative, shared that since working at the company, her family's life has been more stable due to secure income, and her children receive proper education.

Dung's startup project, "Enhancing the Value of Vietnamese Herring - A Sustainable Business Model Solution" created new products like herring fish sauce, herring in oil, shredded herring, herring seasoning, and packaged herring salad, among others.

43Foods' products have gained high trust for their quality and food safety, reassuring consumers thanks to advanced technology used in processing, such as fish drying machines instead of manual wood firing and microbial culture technology replacing traditional salt fermentation, preventing foul odours affecting the community.

In parallel, Dung maximised using by-products as inputs for other products, like using herring meat for shredded herring and remaining meat and bones for seasoning and fish sauce.

Using a methodical, scientific approach, Dung utilised almost the entire herring to create high-nutritional value products at reasonable prices.

Additionally, her project offers a mobile app to track the origin and quality of products, educating consumers on the value of green products.

In nearly two years of starting her business, focusing on product quality improvement and market expansion, the 43Foods Green Food Cooperative's revenue has surpassed expectations, with a diverse distribution network including traditional retail and e-commerce channels.

Huynh Kim Bich Ha, President of the Women's Union of Hoa Khanh Bac Ward, praised Dung's herring processing startup model for creating jobs for local fishermen and women, as well as providing consumers with nutritious, clean food under the 43Foods brand.

When asked why she named her cooperative 43, Dung smiled emotionally, explaining that she wanted customers to associate her products with Da Nang. Herring is also abundant in her hometown, so she chose 43 as a tribute to nature.

Hanh Dung's 43Foods herring products won second place in the "District-Level Startup Ideas Competition 2023" organised by the Women's Union of Lien Chieu District.

43Foods herring products are not only available in Da Nang but also in many provinces nationwide, trusted by customers thanks to their delicious, nutritious, clean quality at reasonable prices.

Recently, the project "Enhancing the Value of Vietnamese Herring - A Sustainable Business Model Solution" entered the Central Region competition and is progressing to the national level.

Currently, Dung is expanding the production area, and investing in modern machinery to meet market demands. In the future, the 43Foods Green Food Cooperative tergets to further economic development and environmental protection, highlighting the role and position of women in today's society.

Reporting by QUYNH LINH - Translating by TRUC VY