Published on May 13, 2005

Park Cuisine Co Ltd, operator of the Thai-French LeNotre restaurant, is planning to offer banquet services next year.

A company executive said the move fitted in with the government’s policy to make Thailand a venue for international exhibitions and conferences.

The company also plans to open three new cafes – one at Siam Paragon, another on Thong Lor and one at Emporium.

Marketing and Operations Manager Phavida Jaruthavee said a feasibility study was underway into the banquet service. She expected the new venture would start next year.

The company will spend at least Bt10 million on the start-up.

LeNotre is owned by real-estate developer Natural Park and France’s Accor Group.

Phavida said the move would allow Park Cuisine to provide integrated restaurant services to complement its core business.

LeNotre offers a delivery service only for customers who order bakery items or food worth more than Bt10,000.

Revenue from these services accounts for less than 1 per cent of its total restaurant income.

Phavida said the cafe plan would expand its customer base from high-end spenders to the general public, such as university students. The company currently operates two cafes, one at Lang Suan and another in the Sofitel Hotel on Silom Road.

Sales revenue from these is expected to reach Bt80 million this year, compared with Bt50 million last year.

Park Cuisine also intends to set up LeNotre “corners”, to sell bakery items from small premises. Each shop requires an investment of Bt1 million.

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