March 30, 2012
Thailand's second-largest agribusiness company, Betagro targets north-eastern Thailand, opening a THB 140 million (US$4.54 million) pork-processing facility in Khon Kaen last week.
Most of the meat from the newly-opened plant will be supplied to food processors, who will turn it into white pork sausages and Chinese snacks, such as dried and crispy pork and dried shredded pork.
The Khon Kaen plant was the fourth such facility after the plants in Lop Buri, Chiang Mai and Phatthalung. Although the plant has the capacity to process 480 pigs per day, it will initially handle 300 animals per day.
The group plans to open three new regional offices in the north-eastern provinces of Bung Kan, Nakhon Ratchasima and Si Sa Ket. It will also unveil six new Betagro shops in the region this year, with stores around the country totalling 30.
Betagro has set the goal of becoming Thailand's leading pork exporter through its five-year business plan to achieve an integrated breeding cycle, including 140,000 great grandparent pigs. This high-quality stock will enable the group to breed high-quality swine through grandparent and parent stock, he said.
The group also sees an opportunity to set up chicken-processing plants as well as a fishery business in Thailand's North East.
The group expects that overall pig-processing capacity in Khon Kaen alone will reach 5,000-6,000 animals per day within the next six months. Senior vice president Narongchai Srisantisaeng said the group is also looking for a suitable location in Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, Surin, Ubon Ratchathani or Si Sa Ket to set up another pork processing plant.
The company's CEO Vasit Taepaisitphongse said that this year's expansion would increase the group's share of the country's pork business from the current 52% to 68%.
Betagro's business in North Eastern Thailand has grown rapidly from sales of THB 450 million (US$14.59 million) 10 years ago to THB 5.5 billion (US$178.3 million) in 2011, reflecting the expanding economy and purchasing power of consumers.
