Recently, a wave of counterfeit and substandard goods, from consumer products to cosmetics, from regular food to supplements and pharmaceuticals, has been exposed. These fake-branded and substandard products not only cause financial damage but also lead to health consequences for consumers. Amid this storm of counterfeit goods, many online shops and accounts have abruptly closed.

Consumers are learning about product information. Photo: SATRA

Consumers are learning about product information. Photo: SATRA

Thanh Hang, a resident of Tan Thuan ward, Ho Chi Minh City, shared her experience in avoiding low-quality goods, especially food. She said she has long been shopping only at established retail systems and supermarket chains. "Goods sold in supermarkets have gone through the supermarket's own origin and quality verification process, so I feel more secure in my choices," Hang said.

For example, the Satramart supermarket system, under Saigon Trading Corporation (SATRA), has established a strict quality control process before warehousing and stocking. Vu Duong Quan, Head of SATRA's Retail System Management, said the retail system always adheres to quality management and food safety regulations. Only products with complete legal documents, quality certifications, and verified origins are allowed to circulate within the system. All items must meet current legal standards, ensuring consumer safety and brand reputation.

Consumers shopping at Satramart Pham Hung supermarket, Binh Hung commune, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: SATRA

Consumers shopping at Satramart Pham Hung supermarket, Binh Hung commune, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: SATRA

To prevent low-quality and counterfeit goods from entering, SATRA applies several control principles simultaneously. These include cooperating only with reputable suppliers who have transparent product origin information. All suppliers must have complete legal documents, such as business registration certificates, barcode certifications, and quality and production process certifications according to regulations.

Quan explained that the company selects partners through a transparent procurement process based on a detailed evaluation system with five criteria groups: finance, product quality, quality management, service, and communication. Within each criterion, SATRA uses specific analytical weights and only partners with suppliers scoring above 60%. In addition, SATRA conducts periodic evaluations of supplier capacity, compliance, and consumer feedback to ensure continuous service improvement.

Food safety is always a top priority for this retail system throughout the entire business process. This is why SATRA regularly conducts periodic and random sample checks on some products, focusing on safety indicators as prescribed by law. For high-risk food groups like fresh food (meat, eggs, vegetables), spices, and processed products, the company conducts quarterly inspections. In addition, when quality incidents or consumer complaints arise, the system coordinates on-site assessments at the supplier's production facility to verify the cause and implement timely solutions, ensuring consumer rights and brand reputation.

High-risk food groups are regularly inspected. Photo: SATRA

High-risk food groups are regularly inspected. Photo: SATRA

In parallel, this retail chain is also promoting technology application in storing contracts, quality records, and supplier management information to enhance control, traceability, and monitoring of the entire supply chain.

Quan affirmed that with the goal of providing customers with safe and transparent products, SATRA always prioritizes input control. By strictly complying with legal regulations and applying internal control processes, this retail system gradually eliminates the risk of counterfeit and low-quality goods from the source, before goods are stocked and reach consumers.

"We always focus on listening to and receiving feedback from consumers, working with them as an 'extension' to quickly address unsuitable products or those with signs of violation, thereby reassuring customers about health safety and aiming for a better quality of life," Quan added.

The SATRA retail system includes three Centre mall shopping centers, 4 Satramart supermarkets, and a network of more than 180 Satrafoods convenience stores across Ho Chi Minh City. This retail system aims to provide consumers with modern shopping amenities and experiences with high-quality products.

Hoang Anh