Following the arrest of Nguyen Trung Vuong, CEO of Ha Lan (Holland) Milk, for producing counterfeit goods, Co Gai Ha Lan (Dutch Lady) has issued a statement clarifying its distinct identity amid consumer confusion due to the shared name "Ha Lan."

Earlier, in late 2022, the Environmental Crime Prevention Department of the Ministry of Public Security initiated a criminal case against Holland Milk for producing and selling counterfeit food products. The company’s headquarters is located at 335 Tran Cung, Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi, with various branches and warehouses under investigation.

According to investigators, Vuong, who holds a university degree in pharmacy and has undergone food safety training, was fully aware of the legal and health implications of producing substandard food products. Despite this, he continued to direct the production and sale of these goods for profit.

The investigation revealed that Vuong directly oversaw his employees at every stage of production and distribution. His management was primarily conducted remotely through online platforms, including a Zalo group that connected him with his staff.

Authorities inspected and seized 67 samples of finished products (representing 33 product types from 8 companies produced at the Holland Milk factory). Analysis of 66 of these samples revealed that their quality indicators were below 70% of the declared standards. The batch, consisting of 29,400 cans, had a market value of over VND 4.1 billion.

The inspection team also temporarily seized 25,667 boxes of products for further investigation. Meanwhile, 2,011 boxes, valued at approximately VND 320 million, had already been sold and have yet to be recalled.

Holland Milk Joint Stock Company was established on May 25, 2016, with Nguyen Trung Vuong, born in 1983, serving as the legal representative and CEO. The company initially had a charter capital of VND 6 billion and specialized in processing dairy products.

It claimed to have received GMP and ISO certifications for product quality, offering over 300 products, including both cow and goat milk, catering to a wide range of consumers from infants to the elderly.

The company also marketed specialized milk products for individuals with various health conditions, such as gastric issues, joint pain, diabetes, and those needing nutritional supplements.

Holland Milk’s products, branded as nutritional supplements due to their added vitamins and minerals, were advertised as being developed by leading Dutch nutrition experts to meet international standards for Vietnamese consumers.

Nguyen Trung Vuong, in a previous interview with Thuong Truong magazine, shared that his motivation for founding Holland Milk in 2016 stemmed from a personal desire to improve the health of his three children, who were frequently sick and undernourished. With the support of his wife, he left his job in the pharmaceutical industry to research and produce infant formula and other milk products aimed at improving the health of the Vietnamese population.

Following the arrest of Nguyen Trung Vuong, Dutch Lady, a prominent milk brand under FrieslandCampina Vietnam (a subsidiary of Royal FrieslandCampina, Netherlands), issued a statement to Tuoi Tre newspaper addressing consumer confusion. The spokesperson emphasized that the similarity in names has led to a misunderstanding, affecting the Dutch Lady brand.

"The violating company shares the 'Holland' name, which has caused some confusion. However, these are two entirely separate companies. Notably, Dutch Lady primarily produces liquid milk, while Holland Milk has been involved in the production and sale of counterfeit powdered milk products," the FrieslandCampina Vietnam representative clarified.

Hanh Nguyen