Bangkok--2 Mar--JWT Public Relations
Bangkok — Prantalay Marketing Ltd., manufacturer and distributor of ‘Prantalay’ frozen seafood products, reiterates its position as Thailand’s leading seafood manufacturer, by revealing its 2006 revenues of over Bt750 million and new plans to expand its seafood lines into at least another 100 SKUs and partnerships with Tesco Lotus and 7/11 stores to penetrate into ‘chilled’ seafood segment. The company is also seeking for more foreign partnerships to expand its frozen seafood based in Asia and increase distribution channels up to 6,500 nationwide with expectation to earn at least Bt1 billion in revenue by the end of this year.
Mr. Thongchai Tavanapong, Chief Executive Officer of Prantalay Marketing Co., Ltd., reveals that in 2006 the company earned a total of over Bt750 million in sales revenues, posting a 36% increase from 2005. The incomes were from arrays of its frozen seafood products, ready-to-cook (Bt250 million or 33.33% of total amount), ready-to-eat (Bt230 million or 30.67% of total amount), Sushi (Bt250 million or 33.33% of total amount) and others including seafood sausages, desserts and cookies (Bt20 million or 2.67% of total amount). This is the third consecutive year of growth along with company’s expectation. The company also expects to earn at least Bt1 billion in sales revenues in 2007.
The successful consecutive growth was due largely to the fact that Prantalay has been providing consumers with new frozen seafood innovations that always meet their new demands. For example, in the last year, the company offered ready-to-eat frozen food for both breakfast and lunch along with the launches of new premium products such as ‘Unagi-Don’ (rice with grilled Japanese eel) and ‘Rice with Tuna Curry’ and arrays of tastier lunch choices. The company also joined with the Japanese K&U Enterprise to produce and distribute Japanese foods such as sushi and sashimi for exports along with new seafood innovations such as seafood buns (salapao), seafood congee, shrimp wanton soup, and pranprai desserts that all contributed to Prantalay’s growth after the fact that the company provides everything consumers would want for a good meal.
Mr. Anurat Khokasai Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Operation Officer of Prantalay Marketing Co., Ltd., says that in 2007 Prantalay will keep on with its marketing plans of offering consumers with new and innovative ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook frozen seafood products as well as by spicing up its product varieties and activities to attract more customers. Also, the company plans to stabilize consumer confidences in its products through series of marketing activities and expansions of distribution channels.
“This year, Prantalay plans to increase at least another 100 SKUs of new products which will increase our total SKUs to 450 across the spectrum. Most recently, the company has planned to release new products in frozen ready-to-cook section such as fish from the Red Sea, butterflied white shrimps, and freshwater fish. The company has also joined with some well-known regional restaurants to develop new ready-to-eat menus during the first quarter and expect to be able to release 3-4 new menus soon. Also, the company has been commissioned to produce 30 varieties of ‘chilled’ foods for Tesco Lotus under ‘Tesco Ready Meal’ brand and 3 varieties of the similar food for 7/11 stores under ‘Easy Go’ brand. The company expects that this section of business will increase its revenue for about Bt20 million this year.
Mr. Anurat adds that “Meanwhile, the company also expands into new markets by penetrating into new groups of customers through new lines of businesses including ‘Dried Seafood’ which is a large and interesting market. Currently, the dried seafood market has about Bt1 billion in total values, including Bt700 million in the provinces and Bt300 million in modern trades. It is expected that in 2007, the modern trades segment will be able to expand for another Bt100 million. Products of dried seafood segment include dried fishes, dried shrimps and squids which will be available at Bt80-120 per package.
In terms of distribution channels, the company emphasizes on getting into consumers with current 5,700 distribution spots nationwide including selling points in all types of communities in forms of 5,500 branches of modern trades, convenient stores, and mini-marts. The number should increase to 6,500 by the end of this year.”
Also, Prantalay has planned to expand its export markets to Japan and Singapore with both ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products. In Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, the company plans to develop chained restaurants under ‘Prantalay Fast Seafood’ concept. Recently, the company has dispatched its teams to do market surveys and researches in China, Taiwan and Malaysia for possibility of future business cooperation.
“With this year’s continuous proactive strategies, marketing activities, public relations, and over Bt20 million budget to be used to reiterate the quality, freshness and cleanliness of our products, I am confident that Prantalay should be able to earn at least Bt1 billion in sales by the end of this year,” says Mr. Anurat.
For more information, please contact:
JWT Public Relations, JWT (Thailand)
Prasit Kritsadaariyachon (Bob), T: 02-204-8216 or 081-586-2813
Rattikarn Takomuang (Jeab), T: 02-204-8214 or 081-986-6733
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