Thai German Meat Product. invites “TGM Celebration” to celebrate its great success as the company’s sausage

Thai German Meat Product.Co.,Ltd will host the event, entitled “TGM Celebration” to celebrate its great success as the company’s sausage, ham and beacon products have been awarded the winning prize of international food competition from Deutsche Landwirtschaffts – Gesellschaft (DLG) of Germany. Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij, Commerce Minister Pornthiva Nakasai, the German Ambassador Dr. Hanns H. Schumacher, will give their honors to preside over the “TGM Celebration”, together with VIP persons and celebrities, such as Surang Prempree, Khunying Pornthip Rojanasunand, Nop Narongdej, Payu Nuengjamnong, Kornkanok Yongsakul, and famous star couples – ‘Pancake’ Khemanit Jamikorn and ‘Weir’ Sukollawat Kanaros. The celebration event will be held on Tuesday February 4, 2010 between 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm at Ballroom, The Sukhothai Bangkok Hotel.

“Prantalay” Steps into Its 7th Year by Writing a New Page of History Launching the Brand Icon “Tai Gong Thongchai”

“Prantalay” Steps into Its 7th Year by Writing a New Page of History Launching the Brand Icon “Tai Gong Thongchai” With Opening of the Year’s Highlight Project: “Good Health, Good Brain Nationwide With Prantalay in 2010”


Prantalay Marketing Co., Ltd., the leader in frozen seafood innovations under the brand “Prantalay”, launches the company’s “Brand Icon” featuring “Tai Gong Thongchai” who will be leading the campaign to bring about good health and good brain to consumers across Thailand in the year’s highlight project: “Good Health, Good Brain Nationwide with Prantalay in 2010” inaugurated in Samut Sakhon Province.

Dr. Thongchai Tavanapong, Chief Executive Officer of Prantalay Marketing Co., Ltd., the leader in frozen seafood innovations under the brand “Prantalay”, reveals that: “Over the past 7 years of our business operation, “Prantalay” has dedicated itself to inspire Thai people to choose a healthier diet in their everyday consumption through the introduction of innovative seafood products to the Thai market, focusing on cleanness and food safety. The company also strives in our research and development missions to continue creating new product lines that cater to the needs of modern consumers, including product categories such as Ready-to-Cook, Ready-to-Eat, as well as an assortment of different-grade Japanese Sushi to meet the demands of consumers at all levels. This is our promise to leverage the living quality and well-being of all Thai consumers.”

Recently, “Prantalay” has launched a new mission with the title “Good Health, Good Brain Nationwide with Prantalay in 2010” – emphasizing the health benefits that seafood provides for the human body in terms of overall well-being, enhanced memory and smartness. The project aims to build knowledge and understanding towards the importance of enhancing “Good Health and Good Brain” using “Tai Gong Thongchai” Dr. Thongchai (a former Chinese junk captain) – the new Brand Icon to represent the core concept of communications for “Prantalay’s” new image, along with building the trust of the company through a story-telling technique that reflects the personal experience of the CEO to create good health, good brain and wellness for life. The campaign will be led by Dr. Thongchai as the Brand Ambassador throughout its course.

Through Dr. Thongchai’s extensive experience as a fishing junk captain or the “Tai Gong” of 15 years, he has accumulated comprehensive knowledge about seafood; from best sources of the products, catching methods, storage and inventory, to new innovations to preserve the freshness of quality for consumers’ healthy alternative. A personal fan of seafood since he was a little boy, Dr. Thongchai promotes the value of the seafood products for their health-consciousness value, high in nutrition especially Omega3 fatty acid that help prevent cardiovascular diseases, blood clots and nourishes the brain system. His family members have also been consumers of seafood, “My main diet today is seafood. Particularly, we have become more familiar with Japanese tradition and about 80 to 90% of the Japanese population consumes seafood in their regular diet. We admire Japanese people for their longevity on average compared to the rest of the world. At present, there are almost 20% of senior Japanese people who are above 60 years of age, but less than 10% of Thai people. This highlights that the consumption of seafood certainly delivers health benefits to our body. We have perceived this fact and everyone in my family enjoys our seafood products, at least one meal each day of the week. We also change the variety of seafood, not just sticking to one kind of meat in order to receive all nutritional values and to boost our healthiness,” says Dr. Thongchai.

The details of the new mission: “Good Health, Good Brain Nationwide with Prantalay in 2010” include the roll-out of a CSR Program centering around building opportunities for good health and good brain to underprivileged children in all parts of Thailand, especially needy children in the rural areas of the North who suffer from malnutrition, which affects their physical and neurological development. Apart from this, the program also targets to senior citizens who are residents of elderly homes in North-Eastern Thailand and in need of healthy food in order to enhance their body’s fitness and well-being, as well as to boost their immune system to protect against diseases often occurring in older people; for instance, blood clots, cardiovascular diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, etc. Several research findings state that the Omega3 fatty acid plays an important part in preventing related diseases of Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, Prantalay will commission a mobile caravan called “Good Health, Good Brain” equipped with a medical team and professional nutritionists to give on-site advice and perform medical check-ups. As a bonus to the program, Prantalay will deliver regular support by sending seafood to each participating area all year round. For this year’s first quarter, the company will start sending support to Somrudee School in Samut Sakhon Province in January, then to Baan Gong Hae School in Mae Rim District of Chiangmai Province in March, followed by Baan Thampakorn Bho-klang Charitable Elderly Home in Muang District of Nakhon Ratchasrima Province in April. The rest of support is to be rolled out partially through the next quarters of this year.

Mr. Anurat Khokasai, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Operation Officer of Prantalay Marketing Co., Ltd., the leader in frozen seafood innovations under the brand “Prantalay”, discloses: “The business performance of the company at the end of December 2009 totaled sales of over Bt.1.1 billion, a 10% increase that met the company’s target and a continuation of the growth over the course of 7-year business operation. Prantalay has built a new strategic plan to increase recognition among consumers to build brand acceptance and try the products more. For 2010, the company has set a sales target of Bt.1.3 billion, an increase of almost 20%.

Mr. Anurat continues: “Prantalay’s marketing strategy for 2010 still focuses significantly on the company’s leadership in new seafood innovations for our Ready-to-Cook and Ready-to-Eat products. Alongside the business focus, the health benefits from seafood are highlighted as always to create a clear consumers’ perception. Moreover, the company has allocated a budget of Bt.20 million to conduct the “Good Health, Good Brain with Prantalay nationwide 2010” project. With business elements and our excellent strategic implementation this year, I believe that ‘Prantalay’ will once again generate sales of more than the targeted Bt.1.3 billion.”

Sealect Sour-and-Spicy Sardine Salad

Thai Union Frozen Products

Sealect proudly introduces Sealect Sour-and-Spicy Sardine Salad, an innovative culinary sensation created through a perfect combination of oriental Thai sour-and-spicy salad dressing, also containing shallot and chili, and traditional western-style canned sardine in tomato sauce. Sealect Sour-and-Spicy Sardine Salad is in easy-open can, needs no additional preparation and offers tasty experience right away after can lid is lifted up. The newly created recipe is retailed at Bt14 at leading supermarkets and grocery outlets as an alternative choice for sour-and-spicy salad lovers.

Thai Union formed JV to produce high grade tuna oil

Thai Union Manufacturing, Co., Ltd., a member of the Thai Union Group of Companies, has joined hands with Nippon Suisan Kaisha Limited of Japan to produce high grade tuna oil in Thailand. Utilizing the state of the art technologies, the new venture is the first in Thailand that is capable of manufacturing high grade ingredient that is suitable for baby formulas. In addition to creating more value-added products, the JV will also help reduce material wastes from Thai Union Group’s main seafood production lines.


Thai Union Frozen Products PLC (TUF)’s president, Thiraphong Chansiri, revealed that TUF’s subsidiary Thai Union Manufacturing, Co., Ltd., entered into an agreement with Nippon Suisan Kaisha Limited, a leading Japanese seafood company, to set up TN Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. With the registered capital of 90 million baht, the new firm aims to develop seafood by-products into fine chemical products that can be used as ingredients in dietary supplements and pharmaceutical products.

While Thailand is a major seafood producer in the world, the country is also the world’s number one manufacturer and exporter of processed tuna. Thai Union Group management believes that seafood by-products have significant potential for further development into high value-added products. TN Fine Chemicals plans to invest more than 80 million baht in equipment and machinery based on new production technologies that are never used in Thailand before. The first phase of production will begin with tuna oil products. The firm aims to produce high grade tuna oil suitable as an ingredient for baby formulas that help enhance brain development in young children.

Besides tuna oil, the joint investment also plans to extract glucosamine from shrimp and crab shells. Glucosamine is a key ingredient of pharmaceutical products for treating arthritis. The chemical can act as a lubricating fluid in the human joints.

Khun Thiraphong further emphasized, “These new projects will make better use of waste materials from our main seafood production lines, helping us achieve our environmental objectives, while adding values to these by-products and diversify our product portfolio.”

At this initial phase, TN Fine Chemicals will produce 540 ton of tuna oil per year, with sales expected to exceed 125 million baht. Japan, the US, and the European Union are key export markets for this product. This investment represents a significant step in turning Thailand's seafood by-products into high value-added export items with a potential to generate substantial income for the country and promoting a more efficient use of natural resources.

As for TUF, business performance for the first three quarters has shown remarkable growth. Net profit rose 39% from the same period a year ago to reach 2,625.4 million baht. Sales in Thai baht term equaled 51,792.8 million baht, or 1,495.6 million US dollar term. The company is confident that all of its subsidiary companies can continue to grow sustainably in terms of sales and profits.

TUF branches into tuna oil

       Thai Union Manufacturing Co, an affiliate of Thai Union Frozen Products Plc (TUF),has formed a joint venture with Nippon Suisan Kaisha Limited, a leading Japanese seafood company, to produce high-grade tuna oil.
       The new company, TN Fine Chemicals Co, has 90 million baht in registered capital and will convert seafood byproducts into refined chemical products that can be used as ingredients in dietary supplements and pharmaceuticals, said TUF president Thiraphong Chansiri.
       Thailand is the world's main producer and exporter of processed tuna, he said.
       The group believes that seafood byproducts have significant potential to be developed into high value-added goods.
       TN Fine Chemicals plans to invest more than 80 million baht in new equipment and machinery that has never been used in Thailand before, said Mr Thiraphong.
       The first phase will produce high-grade tuna oil suitable for use in baby milk formula.
       TN Fine Chemicals plans to produce 540 tonnes of tuna oil a year, garnering sales of more than 125 million baht. The product will be exported mainly to Japan,the US and the EU.
       The joint venture firm also plans to produce glucosamine, a health food product extracted from shrimp and crab shells.
       "These new projects will make better use of waste materials from our main seafood production lines, helping us achieve our environmental objectives,while adding value to these by-products and diversify our product portfolio," Mr Thiraphong said.
       TUF, the world's second-largest tuna company, reported strong sales of more than 51 billion baht in the first nine months of the year.
       TUF shares closed yesterday on the SET at 27.25 baht, down 25 satang, in trade worth 46.54 million baht.

THAI UNION IN TUNA-OIL JV WITH JAPANESE SEAFOOD FIRM

       Thai Union Manufacturing has joined hands with Nippon Suisan Kaisha of Japan to produce high-grade tuna oil in Thailand.
       Utilising state-of-the-art technologies, the new venture is the first in Thailand that is capable of manufacturing high-grade ingredients suitable for baby formulas. Besides creating more value-added products, the advanced technology will also help reduce material wastes from Thai Union Group's main seafood production lines.
       Thai Union Manufacturing is a subsidiary of Thai Union Frozen Products, the country's leading seafood and tuna manufacturer and exporter, while Nippon Suisan Kaisha is a leading Japanese seafood company.
       The plant is located at Samut Sakhon, TUF's manufacturing-based area.
       TUF president Thiraphong Chansiri said yesterday that it has to set up TN Fine Chemicals to facilitate the joint venture operation. With registered capital of Bt90 million, the Japanese partner holds the majority stake of 51 per cent and TUF handles the remainder.
       The new firm aims to develop seafood by-products into fine chemical products that can be used as ingredients in dietary supplements and pharmaceutical products.
       While Thailand is a major seafood producer, the country is also the world's No 1 manufacturer and exporter of processed tuna.
       Thai Union Group believes that seafood by-products have significant potential for further development into high value-added products.
       TN Fine Chemicals plans to invest more than Bt80 million in equipment and machinery based on production technologies that have never been used in Thailand before.
       The first phase of production will begin with tuna oil products. The firm aims to produce high-grade tuna oil suitable as an ingredient for baby formulas that help enhance brain development in young children.
       Besides tuna oil, the joint investment also plans to extract glucosamine from shrimp and crab shells. Glucosamine is a key ingredient in pharmaceutical products for treating arthritis. The chemical can act as a lubricating fluid in human joints.
       "These new projects will make better use of waste materials from our main seafood production lines, helping us achieve our environmental objectives, while adding value to these by-products and diversifying our product portfolio," Thiraphong said
       At this initial phase, TN Fine Chemicals will produce 540 tonnes of tuna oil per year, with sales expected to exceed Bt125 million. Japan, the US and European Union are key export markets for this product.
       This investment represents a significant step in turning Thailand's seafood by-products into high value-added export items with the potential to generate substantial income for the country and promote a more efficient use of natural resources.
       TUF's performance for the first three quarters has shown remarkable growth. Net profit rose 39 per cent from the same period a year ago to Bt2.63 billion. Sales reached Bt51.8 billion, or US$1.5 billion. The company is confident that all of its subsidiaries can continue to grow sustainably in sales and profits.

BT90M INVESTMENT IN HOUSE BRANDS

       Central Food Retail, a leading supermarket operator, will spend Bt90 million in developing house brands with the ambition of getting them to double their contribution to sales by the end of next year.
       According to a study completed in September by ACNielsen, the sales of hourse brands at most retail outlets had grown by more than 20 per cent year on year.
       Phattaraporn Phenpraphat, vice president for marketing and public relations of Central Food Retail, which operates Tops supermarkets and Central Food Hall stores, said Thai consumers had changed their shopping habits and were opting more for cheaper house brands.
       "The ACNielsen survey also shows that the contribution to sales by house brands had grown from between 2 and 3 per cent last year to 3 to 5 per cent this year," she said.
       Phattaraporn added that the firm was going to concentrate on developing its won brands and spend more on packaging and marketing them. It expects the sale of its house brnads to rise from the Bt450 million targeted for this year to about Bt750 million next year. Of the house brands, 70 to 80 per cent are food items.
       Central Food Retail spent almost three years doing a feasibility study and looking into consumer insights about the possibility of its own brands, and launched more than 1,000 items under the house brands of Cooking for Fun, My Choice and Tops.
       The Tops brand covers consumer products in food and non-food categories, Cooking for Fun covers food and cooking ingredients, while My Choice covers fresh food and nonfood items.
       Nick Reitmerier, vice president of the buying department responsible for perishable, produce, international food, wine and own-brand items, said the company was hoping to double the sales contribution of its own brands from the current 2 per cent to 4 per cent next year.
       In the first 10 months of this year, house-brand products posted Bt400 million in sales and are expected to hit Bt450 million by year-end.
       "We want to increase the number of house-brand items from the current 1,000 to about 1,500 next year," Reitmeier said.
       Tops and Central Food Hall stores have about 16,000 products on their shelves, and Central Food Retail wants to differentiate its own brand by focusing on pricing as a sales strategy.
       "We want to promote our brands as top-quality products that are good value for money," he added.
       Meanwhile, Phattaraporn said local vendors supplied about 70 to 80 per cent of the house-brand products and that there appeared to be great opportunities for these items overseas.
       "We have been approached by retailers in the UK, Singapore and Belgium. The deals will be concluded very soon," she said.