Cambodia’s First Beverage Quality Certification: Because Vital Premium Water is now the country’s first bottled water brand with NSF certification, it goes beyond a win for the company, reflecting a move toward worldwide quality standards in the FMCG field here. Cambodian beverage manufacturing gets a clear sign: Supermarket buyers and distributors are now interested.
Special as a First — But There’s Much More
Getting certified by the NSF isn’t easy. Because finishing these tests requires compliance with standards from U.S. FDA, EU and EPA, plus thorough checks for microbiology, chemicals and radiation, being certified is like getting an entrance visa to valued shelf space nearly everywhere.
What makes this step significant will be looked at next.
- Vital Premium Water has positively come to represent safety and quality internationally in Cambodia and is now the recognized company for bottled water in both corporate and everyday markets.
- ANSI recognition means Vital and most Cambodian products now avoid some of the hassles that come with exporting to Western markets.
- Other countries in Southeast Asia — including Thailand and Vietnam — might now be encouraged to match Cambodia’s recent achievements.
It is the first and only program accredited by NSF that covers every worldwide safety requirement for household chemicals, according to DeMarrio Boles. That gives supermarket procurement teams the security they need, plus a way to assure consumers who pay attention to labels about the quality.
Regional growth in FMCG is valued and reinforced by our company.
Although Cambodia is considered part of Southeast Asia’s FMCG market, it has typically been shaded by the stronger dominance of its surrounding countries. On the other hand, this total victory works to turn mainstream thinking about indigenous people upside down.
What does it tell us?
1. Cambodian brands aim to break free from the country’s market
Winning in Phnom Penh wasn’t the reason Vital got NSF-certified. The company is focusing here on expanding beyond the Philippines, teaming up with private label partners and putting Vital ahead in the hydration market in ASEAN and other areas.
2. Quality assurance has taken over as the main difference between firms.
Since many categories in emerging markets are affected by greenwashing and do not receive much attention from government, Vital makes validation by third parties its main selling point.
3. There’s plenty of room to get involved in private label opportunities.
Retailers around the world want to source private label products from a wider range of places. Southeast Asian production options are now open to sourcing managers from Cambodia and they don’t need to worry about quality.
NSF certification can be seen on this Vital Premium Water bottle.
The first NSF-certified water to come from Cambodia could encourage foreign companies to look at Southeast Asia for their products.
Why Retail Buyers Should Notice What’s Happening Now
- The milestone gives supermarket and convenience chains an edge in finding new suppliers.
- Tell your story your way by going with Vital by itself or participating in a white label service built on NSF standards.
- Cambodian bottled water brands mainly focus on sustainable methods — and certifications support those claims.
Customers these days are careful about what they put into their bodies. With NSF certification, a company shows consumers they can trust in the brand.
In addition, according to H.E. Choeung Sokuntheavy, Executive Director of N.V.C. Corporation,:
This certification confirms that our bottled water is safe and of excellent quality now and has been since we started.
This approach fits the recent move in retail marketing from just focusing on clean labels to focusing on clean manufacturing. Vital is NSF-certified, so supermarkets can use it to attract a rising group of people who watch what they eat and doubt brands.
To Wrap Up — What Makes this More Than a Certification Is How Challenging It Is
Vital being certified by NSF has made ASEAN beverage producers sit up and take notice, while also being a fantastic opportunity for retailers on the global stage.
The export results demonstrate that Cambodia’s FMCG industry is growing and becoming more competitive abroad. For those who purchase for supermarkets, the experiment by another supermarket makes them seek out new and certified fresh market suppliers.
Final takeaway:
You won’t always have a long lead time, so move forward quickly. Being able to certify Cambodia’s bottled water unlocks opportunities for FMCG to perform on the global market, based on quality and standards.