Detech Coffee Drives Sustainable Coffee Development in Vietnam

As the only coffee company honored at the Vietnam ESG Forum 2024, Detech Coffee has affirmed its pioneering position in building a sustainable and equitable Arabica coffee value chain in Vietnam.

Developing Son La Arabica Coffee with a Focus on Community and Global Markets

Unlike many companies that serve the market with mass-market products, Detech Coffee has chosen a different path by targeting niche markets for sustainable and specialty coffee. As the third-largest Arabica coffee producer in Northern Vietnam, Detech Coffee has been a pioneer in building a sustainable supply chain in Son La since 2019.

Today, the company works alongside approximately 6,500 smallholders, the majority of whom are ethnic minorities, by providing technical training and supporting international sustainability certifications such as Rainforest Alliance and 4C certification.

Thanks to these certifications and years of experience in sustainable production and supply chain development, Detech Coffee is now a partner in the processing and supply chain for global brands like Starbucks and Nescafé. The company has exported coffee to over 10 countries across three continents: the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Detech Coffee has brought Vietnamese specialty coffee to leading markets such as the United States, Germany, and Japan, where specialty roasters value the quality of the beans and the company’s efforts to build a transparent origin story for Vietnamese products. Its growing international customer base reflects increasing global trust in the Detech Coffee brand and the value of Vietnamese Arabica on the world coffee map. Through this, Detech Coffee has been able to increase farmers’ incomes and build a transparent production environment.

Recognizing the lack of connection within Vietnam’s coffee value chain, Detech Coffee has built a fair ecosystem encompassing traceability, regenerative agriculture, and women’s empowerment. Its “win-win” model gives farmers the confidence to produce while motivating the company to invest in advanced technology and deep processing. With a clear direction, Detech Coffee is steadily contributing to elevating the value of Vietnamese Arabica coffee in the international market.

At the same time, Detech Coffee rigorously applies ESG principles in governance and production.
On the environmental front, the company adopts regenerative agriculture practices, intercropping, biodiversity conservation, and solar energy use.

On the social front, the company has built a network of 6,500 ethnic minority smallholders, promoting training programs and fair value sharing, while enhancing technical and professional skills among its employees.

On the governance side, Detech Coffee has implemented full traceability systems and fosters a corporate culture rooted in fairness and responsibility.

Since 2023, the company has secured working capital loans from the impact investment fund Incofin (Belgium) and, in 2024, technical support from the Luxembourg-based financial development organization ADA under the “Smallholder Safety Net Upscaling Program” (SSNUP). As a result, 1,150 farmers have received training, bringing the number of certified households to 1,650, covering an area of 1,200 hectares. The company aims to expand its certified network by an additional 5,000 households by 2025.

Konnai – A Sustainable Vietnamese Coffee Brand

The Konnai brand was founded by the Detech Coffee team with the mission of increasing the value of Vietnamese agricultural products through deep processing, creating jobs, and instilling national pride. The Konnai logo features the saola — the “Asian unicorn” — symbolizing resilience and aspiration.

Konnai-branded products are developed to meet the diverse needs of modern consumers while preserving the authentic flavors of Vietnamese coffee. Its roasted coffee line is crafted to European standards, maintaining the signature aroma and bright acidity of Arabica beans. Meanwhile, its drip bag coffee offers a convenient yet flavor-rich experience.

Beyond traditional products, Konnai has expanded into instant coffee and canned coffee, offering a variety of flavors that make it easy for consumers to enjoy Vietnamese coffee in their own style. All products are developed on a foundation of sustainability, transparency, and close ties to local coffee farming communities.

In addition, Detech Coffee strengthens collaboration with the International Women’s Coffee Alliance Vietnam (IWCA Vietnam) to empower women, promote climate-resilient agriculture, and position Son La as a leading Arabica-producing region in the area.

“At Detech Coffee, sustainable development is not just a long-term strategy; it is our guiding principle in everything we do. We believe that when farmers are happy, the coffee tastes better; and when coffee is produced with care and integrity, the world will hear Vietnam’s story,” emphasized Ph.d. Dao Ngoc Anh, Chairwoman of Detech Coffee.

With a long-term vision and a strong commitment, Detech Coffee is helping to shape the future of sustainable coffee development in Vietnam, integrating ESG criteria throughout its supply chain and steadily expanding the reach of the Konnai brand on the global market.

Source: Dan Tri Newspaper
Website Detech Coffee: https://detechcoffee.vn/