Bangkok--26 Feb--Thai Airways
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited’s Catering Department won the Mercury Award, under the category Skill Development for Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), recognizing THAI’s implementation of good agricultural practice in educational and training processes, systems, and products, which successfully enhances customer services.
Mr. Smith Pirunsarn, Managing Director, THAI’s Catering Department, revealed that THAI was proud and honored to have received the Mercury Award. The company’s catering staffs have worked hard to maintain high hygiene standards. THAI’s Catering Department focused on product quality and hygiene. The Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) program was developed in 2003 as a cooperative effort by THAI’s Catering Department and Kasetsart University for contract farming, which educates farmers in order to develop and produce good and safe raw materials for THAI’s Catering Department. Attaining the Mercury Award signified that THAI’s Catering Department can ensure customers that all meals served on board THAI flights are hygienically prepared .
The award presentationto the judges took place in London during the month of in January, which was attended by THAI’s and Thai’s team: consisted of Mr. Sompote Sukarochanee, Director, On Ground Production and Services, Mr. Odd Engebretsen, Catering Services Specialist, and Mr. Piroon Songjakkaew, Division Manager, Production Planning.
Mercury Award, organized by the International Travel Catering Association (ITCA), is the most prestigious award for travel catering worldwide. Mercury Award features 6 categories including On Board Service, Food or Beverage, Equipment, Skills development, Systems and Process Development and Inspiration. ITCA is an association governed by 15 board members, with award selection conducted amongst 700 ITCA members worldwide. Mercury Award results were officially announced on 12 February 2009, during a special awards dinner held in Barcelona, Spain.
Seen in Photo:
1. Mr. Smith Pirunsarn (2nd from right), Managing Director, THAI’s Catering Department
2. Mr. Sompote Sukarochanee (2nd from left), Director, On-Ground and Services Department, THAI’s Catering Department
3. Mr. Mike Pooley (far left), President of Gate Gourmet Asia Pacific
Mr. Lionel Wilton (far right), C.E.O. of Alpha-group
Press Release issued by M.L. Ajcharaporn Na Songkhla,
Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations