Charoen Pokphand Foods' sales and net profit are expected to grow 10 per cent this year, thanks to the company's business restructuring.
The company also plans to invest Bt6 billion this year to expand its business both at home and abroad.
The investment will be split equally between the domestic and overseas markets.
CPF's net profit rose to Bt10.19 billion last year, due to implementation of its business-restructuring plan and enhanced promotion of the CP brand.
"The company is confident that sales and profit will not be lower than what we achieved last year.
"In addition, we plan business expansion here and aboard," Adirek Sripratak, president and CEO of the company, said yesterday.
Adirek said CPF's profit margin would reach 17-18 per cent this year, due to the high margin from export goods.
He said the Bt3-billion overseas investment plan had been designed to expand pig farming in Russia and a feed-meal plant and chicken farm in India, while business restructuring in Turkey would allow the company to focus more on feed meal, livestock and processing in that market.
In addition, the company foresees business opportunities in the Philippines, where there is high demand and a growing economy.
"Income from our overseas investment is gradually increasing, and we expect next year to increase our foreign-exchange income ratio further," said Adirek.
CPF's foreign-exchange income has already risen from 19 per cent to 22-23 per cent of overall revenue.
Part of the planned Bt3-billion domestic investment this year will be used to expand the CP Fresh Mart chain of stores from the current 500 outlets to 800-900.
Moreover, the number of CP Five-Star grilled-chicken kiosks will be increased from 60 to 300 over the course of the year.
Investment will also be made in expanding CPF's shrimp-wonton production plant to meet rising export demand.
Adirek said the shrimp business had a bright future, as it did not face many trade restrictions.
However, exports of pork and chicken products are held back by a host of trade obstacles.
The company's shrimp-product manufacturing currently runs at 70-per-cent capacity. Its shrimp exports are targeted to reach 52,000 tonnes this year, against 34,000 tonnes last year.
Due to the high profit generated last year, the company has a healthy cash flow of Bt17 billion.
Of the total, Bt5 billion has been set aside for dividend payment and Bt4 billion-Bt5 billion for investment. Some of the remainder will be paid to creditors.
CPF will pay a dividend of 50 satang per share for the second half of last year. It has already paid 23 satang for first-half operations.
A board committee has also approved the establishment of firms in Kenya and Tanzania to explore local business opportunities, particularly for feed meal and farming. The registered capital of each company will be US$5 million (Bt166 million).
Meanwhile, another unit of the Charoen Pokphand Group, CP All - operator of the 7-Eleven convenience-store chain - reported a 17.5-per-cent increase in revenue and a 22.9-per-cent rise in net profit for last year. Net profit came in at Bt4.6 billion, as the opening of 492 stores drove revenue to Bt117.8 billion.
CP All chief executive officer Korsak Chairasmisak attributed the growth to customer satisfaction with the company's product assortment and selection of food products to suit the modern lifestyle.
The 7-Eleven network of about 5,000 outlets welcomes an average of 6 million customers daily.
CP All will remain focused on growing as a convenience-food store. It plans to expand the business by encouraging local retail operators to join its franchise system and will prepare the infrastructure for operational support through increased efficiency in the logistics system, supply-chain relationship and management, said Korsak.
