From Phe La to Katinat: Unveiling the Woman Behind These F&B Powerhouses
While she is a well-known entrepreneur in the finance and securities sector, Ms. Truong Nguyen Thien Kim (born in 1976) has been making waves recently with her foray into the F&B industry, notably with the highly popular Phe La and Katinat brands.
Prior to 2021, Katinat was not a household name in Ho Chi Minh City, with only about nine small branches located in Districts 1 and 3, and one in Bien Hoa.
However, things changed rapidly as Katinat began expanding into prime locations in Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat, Can Tho, and Dong Nai.
The brand also made its mark in the Northern market, opening multiple stores in Hanoi.
Katinat, established in early 2016, only began to truly flourish in 2020 when Katina Cafe Joint Stock Company was founded to manage and invest in the chain.
With a charter capital of VND 38 billion, Mr. Dinh Viet Ha serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. However, the real mastermind behind the Katinat Saigon Kafe chain is Ms. Truong Nguyen Thien Kim, who holds a staggering 84.21% ownership in the company. At Cafe Katinat, Ms. Kim takes on the role of Board member and General Director.
Katinat chose Ho Chi Minh City as its first market.
While Katinat focused on Ho Chi Minh City, Phe La started with its first store in Hanoi. Phe La, an F&B brand, centers its business around its products, with the slogan “We sell specialty Oolong tea from Dalat.”
According to business registration in December 2022, Phe La Joint Stock Company (the unit managing and operating the Phe La chain) has a charter capital of VND 180 billion, 51% of which is held by Ms. Truong Nguyen Thien Kim. This 1976-born female entrepreneur also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Phe La Joint Stock Company.
Ms. Kim’s influence extends beyond these two companies, as she also serves on the Board of Directors of International Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (IDP); as an independent member of the Board of Directors of Ben Thanh Trade and Service Joint Stock Company (BTT); and as a member of the Supervisory Board of Western Bus Station Joint Stock Company (WCS).
Ms. Thien Kim is also known for her marriage to Mr. To Hai, Chairman of the Board of IDP and Vietcap Securities Joint Stock Company (VCI).
Recently, Ms. Truong Nguyen Thien Kim registered to sell 13.2 million VCI shares from September 4 to October 3 to meet personal needs.
If the transaction is successful, Ms. Kim’s holdings in VCI will decrease from over 22.8 million shares (a rate of 5.17%) to 9.6 million shares (a rate of 2.18%). Meanwhile, Mr. To Hai currently owns 22.44% of the capital.
Ms. Truong Nguyen Thien Kim (in the green dress). Photo: Di Mai Restaurant
On the stock market, VCI shares closed at VND 33,400 per share on September 12, 2024. Based on the current price, the value of Ms. Kim’s VCI shares is approximately VND 762 billion.
…and her involvement with the F&B Giant D1 Concepts
When discussing Ms. Thien Kim’s ventures in the F&B industry, it is imperative to mention D1 Concepts Joint Stock Company.
Initially named Lim Lai Joint Stock Company, the company was founded in 2012 by Mr. Trinh Lai. In 2016, Lim Lai changed its name to Capella D1, introduced as a member of Capella Holdings, specializing in F&B Hospitality. They own well-known brands such as San Fu Lou – Cantonese Kitchen, Sorae Sushi Sake & Lounge, and Di Mai.
Since April 2017, Ms. Truong Nguyen Thien Kim has served as the General Director and legal representative of the company.
In October 2020, Capella D1 was renamed D1 Concepts.
Notably, Ms. Truong Nguyen Thien Kim was once introduced on the Capella Holdings website as Mr. Nguyen Cao Tri’s “right-hand” person and served as a member of the Board of Directors.
In 2020, during Mr. Nguyen Cao Tri’s tenure as Chairman of the Board of Directors, Lothamilk Joint Stock Company invested in IDP, acquiring 10.18% of the charter capital. Interestingly, in the same year, Blue Point Joint Stock Company was poised to become the largest shareholder in IDP, holding 60.56% ownership as of December 2020.
According to our data, Ms. Truong Nguyen Thien Kim was, at that time, the largest shareholder, owning 84% of Blue Point’s charter capital.
Following Blue Point and Lothamilk’s significant investments in IDP, along with the involvement of Viet Capital Securities Joint Stock Company, Mr. To Hai was appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of International Dairy Products Joint Stock Company.
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