Cambodian cashew nuts are set to take to the skies as they will soon hit the shelves at airports and on board airlines. The Ministry of Commerce Friday reached a decision to start the sale of processed cashew nuts on flights.
Tor Pila, Secretary of State of MoC and Van Chanty, Director General of Air Transport Policy of the Secretariat of State for Civil Aviation among other top officials were present at the meeting.
The participants pledged their total support and cooperation on this development, apart from giving a boost to the National Cashew Policy. The involved parties made a commitment of “supporting the promotion, distribution and use of Cambodian cashew products more widely,” said Secretary Pila.
Cashew nuts have never been sold on board before, said Silot Uon, President, Cashewnut Association of Cambodia to Khmer Times on Tuesday. This change will help increase sales because it is easier for tourists to find Cambodian nuts on board. Cambodia is a popular tourist destination, so this idea can boost local sales.
“Promoting cashew nuts at airports is an excellent opportunity to increase awareness among international travellers about Cambodia as one of the top cashew nut-producing countries in the world,” said Takayuki Imahashi, Business Planning Officer, Mirarth Agri Tech Co Ltd.
“It’s essential to highlight that Cambodia’s cashew nuts are not only among the largest but also exceptionally delicious. This exposure can also lead to increased media coverage internationally, further enhancing the global recognition of Cambodian cashew nuts,” he added.
Promotion is the most important factor because it helps people learn about the product, makes brands stand out, and helps them reach more customers, said Sothnita (Cashew) Seoun, Head of Business Development for Handcrafted Cashew Nuts Stung Treng. However, it should go hand in hand with good distribution and sales strategies for the best results.
Money must be available to help businesses with realistic objectives to grow and be able to transform the cashew nuts here in Cambodia, said Francois-Xavier Richard Choquette, Managing Director, Aidens Cashews. “Afterwards, certifications must be done in partnership with organisations so we can promote, distribute and sell cashews with added value and export them,” he added.
Among promotion, distribution and sales, the most important aspect is differentiating Cambodian cashew nuts from those of competing countries like Vietnam and India, continued Imahashi.
Currently, the global market is dominated by cashews from India and Vietnam.
In this context, it’s crucial to promote Cambodian cashew nuts as the “third option” in the market. These cashews stand out because they are large, produced under fair trade practices, and are environmentally sustainable, offering a new value proposition. Emphasising these unique qualities will help establish Cambodian cashew nuts as a distinct and superior choice in the global market, he added.
Earlier last month, a meeting of the MoC arrived at the decision to sell cashew nuts at supermarkets and marts in the Kingdom. The businesses that participated in the meeting were Aeon, Macro, Lucky, Chip Mong, Thai Huot, Bayon, Big C, Tela, 7-Eleven and Cambodian Superstore.