Inspired by the popularity of Mexican buns in Thailand, Suthatip Tantayanurak, founder and executive director of Beyond Intelligence Group, is starting her own Big@Bread bakeries selling the sweet delights.

Suthatip, 33, plans to open seven Big@Bread shops in China and Vietnam, each requiring an initial investment of about Bt2 million. Big@Bread outlets in Thailand will be franchised.

"I am interested in the Mexican-bun business because it has great potential for development in the long term, in product, marketing and organisation," Suthatip said.

Beyond Intelligence Group was formed in 2003 as a business-management consultancy and runs the Rad pub and restaurant outlets on Rachadapisek Soi 4 and in Khon Kaen province and the Horizon dinning cruises on the Chao Phya River.

"I have consulted a friend who has the recipe and runs the original Mexican-bun bake shop in Malaysia," said Suthatip. "I will set up Big@Bread in Thailand with him and then expand both domestically and abroad."

Suthatip said the first local franchised outlet would open at Central World Plaza this month, targeting schoolchildren and tourists.

She expects to open 30 franchises in Thailand this year, in three major formats - 20-square-metre mobile kiosks, 20-square-metre bake shops and 25-square-metre cafés - suited to residential communities and universities. The kiosks and cafés will produce 250 buns per hour and the bakeries 500.

Franchisees must initially invest Bt800,000 each for a kiosk, Bt1.5 million for the bakery and Bt2 million for a café, plus Bt100,000 for a year's franchise on a bakery and Bt150,000 on a café. They must also remit 5 per cent of sales as a management fee.

"We provide all management paradigms, including finance and accounting, and all baking equipment and accessories, including intercooler and freezer. We also supply 4,000-5,000 buns to get them started. They will take eight to 12 months to break even," Suthatip said.

Kwanchai Rungfapaisarn

The Nation