Prantalay confirmed its position as Thailand's leading seafood producer by announcing 2006 revenue of more than Bt750 million.

Chief executive officer Thongchai Tavanapong said the company was planning to expand its seafood lines into at least another 100 outlets and to form partnerships with Tesco Lotus and 7-Eleven to penetrate the chilled-seafood segment.

The company is also seeking more foreign partnerships to expand its frozen-seafood base in Asia.

It aims to increase its distribution channels to up to 6,500 nationwide as it targets revenue of at least Bt1 billion this year.

Prantalay's 2006 revenue of Bt750 million was an increase of 36 per cent from the previous year.

Ready-to-cook products accounted for Bt250 million, or 33.33 per cent; ready-to-eat products Bt230 million, or 30.67 per cent; sushi Bt250 million, or 33.33 per cent; and others - including seafood sausages, desserts and cookies - Bt20 million, or 2.67 per cent.

"This is the third consecutive year of growth, matching the company's expectations," Thongchai said.

He said the growth was due largely to the fact that Prantalay had been providing consumers with new frozen products that met their demands.

Last year it launched ready-to-eat frozen food for both breakfast and lunch, along with new premium products such as Unagi-Don (rice with grilled Japanese eel) and Rice with Tuna Curry.

It also joined with Japanese firm K&U Enterprise to produce and distribute Japanese foods such as sushi and sashimi along with new innovations such as seafood buns, seafood congee, shrimp wanton soup and pranprai desserts.

Anurat Khokasai, chief marketing officer and chief operation officer, said this year Prantalay would maintain its marketing plan of offering consumers new and innovative ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook seafood products, as well as spicing up its varieties to attract new customers.