An Unprecedented “Paté”: Born from an Inspiring Story
Produced in Vietnam since 2004, SOLSE smoked cheese (the twisted string-like cheese sticks) has become familiar to many. It was the first smoked cheese in Vietnam.
With over 20 years in the market, SOLSE smoked cheese has experienced a rollercoaster of emotions as a product that dared to exist and thrive amidst numerous challenges in the food industry.
“We are satisfied but never complacent with what we have done. My colleagues and I always ponder the question each new day: What new thing can we do next?” shared Ms. Tran Thanh Huyen, Executive Vice President of Nguyen Hong Limited Company (manufacturer of SOLSE Smoked Cheese).
One day at the end of 2020, serendipity struck. It happened when she and her colleagues heard an inspiring story from their market staff.
Ms. Tran Thanh Huyen, Executive Vice President of Nguyen Hong Limited Company, shared her expectations for SOLSE Pate Cheese.
“They shared experiences and feedback from SOLSE smoked cheese customers. Among them was a particularly intriguing story about a female customer who loved SOLSE so much that she invented a way to incorporate it into her cooking. She shredded the SOLSE sticks into short strands and mixed them into salads and other dishes. This caused the SOLSE ‘strands’ to puff up, infusing the dishes with an impressive flavor,” Ms. Huyen recalled.
When they heard this story, an idea sparked: “With our existing expertise, why don’t we create a paté entirely made of cheese? With this paté, SOLSE will become even closer to everyone—the elderly, children, young people, and those who care about nutrition.”
“Let’s do it. This will be the first paté in Vietnam made from cheese, from fermented milk. Just hearing about it excites us,” shared the SOLSE leader enthusiastically.
SOLSE Pate Cheese is researched and created from smoked cheese.
Consequently, by 2025, SOLSE cheese paté was officially launched, featuring soft, curly, fluffy strands with a rich flavor and the alluring smell of smoked cheese. Everyone who tasted it was thrilled and surprised.
SOLSE Cheese Paté is Born, Evoking a Sense of “Wow”
In 2004, when the first batches of SOLSE smoked cheese were produced, the manufacturer, Nguyen Hong, invited people familiar with Russian culinary culture to try it.
At that time, everyone found it intriguing and thought it was cheese produced in Russia because of its authentic Russian flavor and taste. Those unfamiliar with smoked cheese were surprised that “milk could create something this chewy and fatty.”
“Receiving such feedback, we were delighted. We could call it a ‘Wow’ emotion. Even now, after more than 20 years, that impressive emotion resurfaces as we introduce SOLSE cheese paté,” shared Ms. Tran Thanh Huyen.
Immediately after its launch in early 2025, SOLSE cheese paté was offered to many people—following Nguyen Hong’s market strategy: inviting people to taste and listening to their feedback to gain experience.
SOLSE cheese paté was brought to office workers who needed protein and calcium-rich food that was also convenient, as well as to children in schools and the elderly.
The common feedback was positive: delicious and convenient. Before, many people were only familiar with meat, fish, or mushroom paté but had never seen a paté made from cheese or fermented milk.
“SOLSE cheese paté can be eaten directly as a snack or paired with sticky rice, bread, and more. Seeing everyone relish their familiar bread and sticky rice—now made more delicious with SOLSE cheese paté—we believe we are on the right track,” Ms. Huyen confided.
Nguyen Hong’s goal for the upcoming period is to introduce SOLSE cheese paté to popular supermarket systems, such as WinMart, AEON, Circle K, and Topsmarket, which are already familiar partners of SOLSE.
“With a nutritious and convenient product like SOLSE cheese paté, spreading these soft, curly, and fluffy strands to everyone is not just a task but also our passion. Nguyen Hong believes that we are not just selling a product; we are bringing decent nutrition to society,” expressed Ms. Tran Thanh Huyen with determination.
