Olam Food Ingredients (ofi) Vietnam: Journey of sustainable development and global position

Olam Food Ingredients (ofi) Việt Nam: Hành trình phát triển bền vững và vị thế toàn cầu

Vietnam Farmers' Day.

Talking with The Gioi & Viet Nam Newspaper, Mr. Gaurav Patil - CEO of ofi Vietnam - shared about his development journey, sustainable development strategy, and the reasons why Vietnam has become his "second home".

Mr. Gaurav Patil, CEO ofi Vietnam.

Could you briefly introduce ofi and its development process in Vietnam?

ofi Vietnam, is a member company of ofi group - the world's leading multinational corporation specializing in supplying ingredients for the food industry. We are a reliable partner, specializing in providing customers with sustainable, natural, high-value food products and ingredients so that consumers can enjoy their favorite products with premium quality and good for health. Starting operations in Vietnam since 1997, up to now, ofi has expanded its scale to many localities, with headquarters in Ho Chi Minh City and factories and regional offices in provinces such as: Binh Dinh, Long An, Dong Nai, Phu Yen, Lam Dong, Gia Lai and Yen Bai .

We are currently one of the leading exporters of cashew nuts, pepper, raw coffee beans and instant coffee in Vietnam, with more than 24 factories and offices spread across the Central and Southern regions.

In your opinion, what creates a special position for Vietnam in the international arena and how has Vietnam contributed?

Currently, nearly 60% of Vietnam's population lives in rural areas and more than 30% of the workforce works in agriculture, which is a prominent competitive advantage of Vietnam.

Olam and ofi Group have grown by always being “present” in potential places – starting from purchasing directly from farms, accompanying farmers - who have helped us “kick-start” our business in raw material areas from the very beginning. The philosophy of “doing good, doing good business” is the driving force for us to constantly develop human resources, expand cooperation with farmers and deeply connect with local communities.

Irrigation Project - Irrigation Project

How does Vietnam respond to global fluctuations to maintain competitiveness?

With 5 key business lines, we provide in-depth solutions for each product group, with the same common business goal: "Being the change for delicious, nutritious food sources and for a healthy future", along with the sustainable development strategy "Choices for Change" as a guideline.

In addition, we focus on investing in people. With more than 4,500 employees in Vietnam, we prioritize three factors: employee engagement, building a diverse and inclusive working culture, and talent development. In addition, our direct and indirect purchasing network from thousands of farmers helps realize our sustainable development strategy "Choices for Change" with 4 key areas: Developing prosperous agriculture, Developing communities, Combating climate change and Reshaping lives. All of these aspects are built on the foundation of ofi's Supply Chain Optimization.

Project of Giving Cashew Seedlings to Farmers in 2024.

How have recent changes in trade and tariffs affected your company's operations?

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), since 2000, Vietnam has been the country with the fastest export growth rate in the region, averaging 15% per year.

With our global network, we can participate in many different trade streams, reducing our dependence on a single market. So the impact so far can be said to be within the group’s control. Importantly, we continue to invest in Vietnam – for example, ofi inaugurated a macadamia nut factory in Phu Yen in June this year, to expand our high-value product portfolio and meet the needs of customers globally.

How can Vietnamese agriculture create more value instead of just exporting raw materials?

By 2024, Vietnam’s agricultural export turnover will reach 62.5 billion USD – the result of the transformation from traditional agricultural production to a market-oriented agricultural economy. Farmers increasingly understand that production must be linked to market demand.

I agree with Mr. Le Minh Hoan – Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, that: “The resilience of farmers is the core of success. Every achievement in agriculture is built on the efforts of millions of farmers and thousands of businesses.”

How does ofi Vietnam specifically implement sustainable development and support the farming community?

At ofi, sustainability is the foundation for long-term success. We work with governments, farmers, civil society and customers – including many of the world’s largest food brands and retailers – to achieve our shared sustainability goals. We have more than 130 partnerships underway globally.

In Vietnam, we support farmers through training and certification programs, with a particular focus on women-led farms. In 2024, ofi worked with more than 8,500 smallholder farmers, including more than 680 women-led coffee farmers, 280 women-led pepper and cinnamon farmers, and 160 women-led cashew farmers to expand production in a sustainable way. We also implement community programs such as the Workplace Breastfeeding Support Program (ofi Care) for more than 500 female employees to take care of their health and work-life balance, or the Education Development Support Scholarship (ofi YES!) for more than 350 students in 2024. These efforts have helped ofi to be honored at the 2024 Women's Empowerment Principles Awards (WEPs Awards) in the category of "Gender Equality through Community Engagement and Partnerships".

Mr. Gaurav Patil with his wife and children.

As a Millennial CEO, what has shaped your leadership style?

To me, age is just a number. What matters is the ability to learn, adapt and constantly reinvent yourself in an ever-changing world.

In just five years since the pandemic, the business environment has changed rapidly. In my opinion, staying true to your core values amidst unpredictable changes is vital.

I believe in an integrated, purpose-driven leadership model: connecting the entire supply chain, aligning farmers – partners – customers – staff towards a common goal.

We also need to embrace new technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and upgrade our skills to maintain our competitive edge. I see that Vietnamese human resources have a strong spirit of innovation, a thirst for learning and a sense of responsibility to the community – that makes me very optimistic.

As a typical Vietnamese family, what makes Vietnam a “second home” to you?

This is a very interesting question, thank you! First of all, simply because my wife and children are my “home”. The house filled with laughter, Tet customs, and the daily life that we build together – all are my support and greatest happiness here.

But beyond family, Vietnam is “home” in a broader sense: the warmth of community, the joy of simple things, and the resilience of spirit have deeply rooted me. Raising children in a Vietnamese family has helped me immerse myself in the culture, values, and rhythm of life here. It’s not just about adapting – it’s about truly belonging.

In terms of work, leading a team and operating across the country has given me many valuable experiences. Over the past 14 years, I have witnessed and contributed to the strong transformation of the economy. Vietnam has a special energy source - always eager to learn, develop and reach out to the world. The resilience, dedication and daring spirit of my Vietnamese colleagues constantly inspire me. I am honored to have many close relationships, to accompany and nurture young talents, and to contribute to the growth of the business, which is how I am attached to this "home".

So Vietnam is not only where I work, but also where my children grow up, where we build our lives and future – and will always be my “home”.