Vietnamese milk brand takes center stage at global awards

Vietnamese brand earns international recognition The only Vietnamese brand to win in this category, the recognition highlights its international standing and Vinamilk's efforts to advance nutritional standards.

Vietnamese brand earns international recognition. Organized by the World Branding Forum (WBF), a London-based non-profit organization, the awards recognize outstanding brands from around the world.

The evaluation is based on three criteria: brand valuation, accounting for 30% of the score; market and consumer research, contributing 40%; and public voting, making up the remaining 30%. Consumer-related factors therefore account for 70% of the overall assessment.

Commenting on the award, Richard Rowles, Chairman of the World Branding Forum, said: “Infant formula is one of the most rigorously assessed categories because parents are making important choices about their children's development.

Optimum Gold was recognized for meeting all three of our assessment criteria: scientific foundation, commercial strength and genuine support from parents. This is not simply a popularity contest”.

Advancing infant nutrition with a six-HMO formula In November 2024, Vinamilk relaunched Optimum Gold with a formula containing six human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), making it the first infant formula product in Vietnam to incorporate this combination.

HMOs are nutrients naturally found in breast milk. They help nourish beneficial bacteria in the digestive system and contribute to supporting infants' natural protective barriers.

A key feature of Optimum Gold is its six-HMO complex, particularly the combination of DFL and 3-FL, two types of HMOs that had previously more commonly appeared separately in infant formula products.

The formula also combines whey protein rich in alpha-lactalbumin, two billion BB-12™ and LGG™ probiotics, and prebiotic fiber (GOS/FOS), with the aim of supporting digestion and nutrient absorption.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Tri, Vinamilk's Marketing Executive Director, said the award was a source of pride not only for the company but also for Vietnam's nutrition industry.

“Every innovation in Optimum - including the first milk formula product in Vietnam containing six HMOs, accounting for up to 58% of the total HMO content in breast milk – begins with a simple question: How can we better support parents on their child-rearing journey? That question drives us to continuously research and apply the world's latest advances in nutritional science”, he said.

In addition to formula innovation, Vinamilk has also sought to strengthen product safety and purity standards through independent testing by the Clean Label Project in the United States.

The assessment covers potential contaminants beyond the mandatory food safety requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

These efforts have also provided a foundation for recognitions including the First 1,000 Day Promise and Purity Award. As Vinamilk marks its 50^th anniversary, the Brand of the Year distinction for Optimum Gold adds to the company's international recognition.

Its products are now available in 67 countries and territories, with a portfolio of more than 350 products serving a wide range of nutritional needs.

The award recognizes both Optimum Gold and Vinamilk's ongoing commitment to innovation.

With science as its foundation, quality as its commitment and children's development as its goal, the company continues to pursue research and develop high-quality nutritional products in line with international standards, contributing to the health and well-being of future generations of Vietnamese children.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Tri, Vinamilk's Marketing Executive Director (centre), receives the Brand of the Year award from Richard Rowles, Chairman of the World Branding Forum, at the World Branding Awards 2026-2027 ceremony in the UK. Photo courtesy of Vinamilk