June 15, 2007

Thailand's Betagro to spend 300 million baht to add food processing line

Thai food processor and exporter Betagro Group plans to spend THB300 million (US$8.7 million) next year to expand production and exports of processed chicken meat and pork, a senior company official said Thursday (Jun 14).

The company will add an additional food processing line for the ready-to-eat meal sector, which is controlled mainly by Charoen Pokphand, the country's largest food manufacturer and farm operator, the official said.

"The new project is in line with the company's policy to expand areas that support its core business, producing and selling chicken meat and pork," the official said.

Betagro expects its revenue to rise by 15 percent this year from THB30 billion reported in 2006 from its chicken, pork and animal feed business. Two-thirds of the revenue was from the domestic market.

The company aims to increase the proportion of revenue earned from exports in response to rising demand.