Following an unannounced audit, the Binh Duong beverage plant achieved BRCGS grade AA, while cutting electricity use per litre by 16% through heat recovery and rooftop solar.
Thalvora Foods' Binh Duong beverage plant has been awarded grade AA under the BRCGS Global Standard for Food Safety by an independent certification body, the highest grade available for an unannounced audit. At the same time, the plant has completed a 14-month energy upgrade, an important milestone for the facility that produces our pure passion fruit juice and bottled fresh coconut water.
An unannounced audit
Unlike a scheduled audit, the auditor arrived at the gate without notice and examined every part of the operation over two consecutive days, from fruit intake and the aseptic filling room to the microbiology laboratory and the finished goods warehouse. The plant recorded no major non-conformities and only two minor improvement points, both closed within 28 days.
The certification adds to the systems already in place at the plant, including ISO 22000:2018, HACCP and FSSC 22000. For importers in Europe and Australia, BRCGS is often a requirement when selecting a supplier of bottled beverages.
A certificate is only worth something if it reflects what happens on the night shift of an ordinary day. That is why we chose an unannounced audit. — Ms Pham Thu Ha, Director of Quality and Food Safety
The energy-efficiency project
Alongside the quality work, the manufacturing team delivered four upgrades while the plant continued to run as normal:
- A 1.8 MWp rooftop solar system, covering around 24% of daytime electricity demand;
- Heat recovery from the pasteurisation line to pre-heat bottle-washing water;
- Replacement of all older air compressors with variable-speed units, backed by a monthly compressed-air leak survey;
- LED lighting with occupancy sensors throughout the production halls and warehouses.
As a result, electricity use per litre of product fell by 16% and water use per litre by 11% compared with 2024. The plant's Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions are estimated to fall by around 2,100 tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year.
People make the difference
The plant employs 520 people across three shifts. In 2026, each employee received an average of 32 hours of training in food safety, personal hygiene and standard operating procedures. Improvement teams on every line put forward 146 ideas, 61 of which have been implemented, mostly aimed at shortening changeover times and reducing packaging losses.
Most of the best improvements come from the people who run the machines. Our job is to listen and give them time to try things out. — Mr Vo Quang Huy, Director of Manufacturing
Next steps
In 2027, the plant will add a filling line for recycled PET bottles and aims to use at least 30% recycled plastic in its beverage packaging. Lessons from Binh Duong will also be rolled out to the Duc Trong vegetable plant and the Tien Giang dried fruit plant.
Partners who need information about the plant's certifications can contact info@xxxxx.vn.
