Kampaeng-saen plans to increase fruit, vegetable sales at home

The company currently ships 75 per cent of its production of 180 tonnes per month to leading supermarkets in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Australia, Russia, Hong Kong and Japan. The remaining 25 per cent is sold domestically through Tops Supermarket, Villa Market and Gourmet Market.

It set its revenue target at Bt400 million for this year - the same as last year - with exports generating Bt300 million and the local market Bt100 million.

"However, we expect our revenue to be split equally between domestic and foreign markets next year as leading supermarkets will be forced to place orders for only standardised products after the enforcement of the Product Liability Act this coming February," president Chusak Chuenprayoth said yesterday.

The company will introduce a range of ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat fruit and vegetable meals to respond to the changing lifestyle of urbanites, who look for easy-to-cook, safe and healthy food.

The UK would definitely face the fallout from the United States financial crisis soon, he said, so the company will shift its focus to Russia and China, which still show high demand for fruit and vegetables.

"We have got such a good response from the Russian market that we're considering setting up a fruit plant there next year if we can find a partner," he said.

To support rising demand in the home market next year, the company has tightened cooperation with its suppliers to improve the quality of farming to meet world-class standards by providing growers with know-how and advanced technology.

Its contract farms cover about 2,500 rai of land in Chanthaburi, Chumphon, Loei, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chiang Mai. It owns three farms in Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri and Nakhon Ratchasima with a combined area of 600 rai.