briefs

A&W (Malaysia), the food division of KUB Malaysia, plans to add six more A&W outlets in Malaysia and another four in Thailand this year.

KUB group managing director Mohd Nazar Samad said the new outlets and the remodelling of 32 others in both markets were part of a 38-million ringgit (Bt371 million) business expansion.

"We started upgrading our Malaysian outlets in March 2008, and to date a total of 11 A&W outlets have been upgraded. To enhance the experience for its customers, the transformation of the remaining A&W outlets is expected to be completed by the end of 2009," Samad said on Tuesday.

"The company has allocated a total of 24 million ringgit for the upgrading initiative in Malaysia.

A&W, known for its root beer, hot dogs and onion rings, now has 31 outlets in Malaysia and 31 in Thailand. - Bernama News Agency

Top Glove eyes Malaysian, Thai rivals

Top Glove, the world's biggest rubber-glove manufacturer, is in talks to buy rivals in Malaysia and Thailand as it seeks to control more than a third of the world market by the end of 2012, said Bloomberg.

The Malaysian company, with a global market share of 22 per cent, must acquire the rivals or risk missing a targeted share of 35 per cent, said executive director Lim Cheong Guan.

The acquisitions were planned after the global economic turmoil drove down valuations and pushed some companies towards collapse.

Chairman Lim Wee Chai did not give details on the talks or an acquisition budget. - The Nation

CPF pilot project to reduce carbon footprint

Charoen Pokphand Foods, Thailand's leading agro-industrial and food conglomerate company, has entered into a pilot project to help fight global warming by reducing the company's carbon footprint in its manufacturing process, says deputy managing director Boonpeng Santiwattanatam. - The Nation

Fabrinet expects slight revenue growth

Fabrinet, a global provider of engineering and manufacturing services for complex optical and electromechanical components used in the telecom, medical and automotive markets, expects only slight growth in sales revenue this year, due to the declining global economy.

Executive vice president Teera Achariyapaopan yesterday said the company, which manufactures solely for export, normally recorded annual sales-revenue growth of 20-30 per cent. - The Nation