Diethelm opens cold storage centre

Another Bt300 million has been earmarked for the next phrase of expansion, which will include satellite-linked distribution centres in the North and South.

Diethelm is a leader in the marketing and distribution of chilled and frozen products.

CEO and president Joerg Wolle said DKSH was also looking for other acquisition opportunities in Thailand, such as materials, consumer-goods and niche and technology businesses.

"We are financially strong and have zero net debt, so we're prepared to exploit any opportunities that arise in times of crisis," said Wolle.

The company is analysing and screening about five companies, all of which deal with the production and distribution of such products as flavoured food additives.

Last year, DKSH made seven acquisitions, including Voltas, the chemical-trading arm of India's Tata Group, for only half of the original asking price, Wolle said.

On this latest cold-storage facility in Thailand, Wolle said the facility, covering 14 rai, was one of the best cold-chain distribution centres and capable of providing competitive logistics and distribution services.

It specialises in the handling of dairy products, including milk, cheese, butter and cream, pasteurised juices and ice cream.

The new distribution centre brings combined storage capacity to 7,000 pallets across eight multifunctional chambers. Each chamber can operate between minus 30 and plus 6 degrees Celsius.

Two rooms have been allocated specifically for ice cream and other compatible products, capable of storing more than 500,000 cases of ice cream at minus 30 degrees Celsius.

Somboon Prasitjutrakul, global business-unit manager for consumer goods at DKSH and president of Diethelm, said the facility had created 150 new jobs in the past six months.