BreadTalk to double number of Thai outlets
S'pore firm plans 40 shops by 2014
Singapore-based BreadTalk Group Plc is deploying Bt1 billion to double its food and beverage outlets in Thailand to 40 in two years. The branches will be opened under various brands as part of its wider expansion throughout Asia.
Its chains include Bread Talk bakery, Food Republic food court, Din Tai Fung Chinese restaurant and Toast Box coffeehouse.
An Icing Room bakery shop will be added this year, Joyce Koh, group senior vice president for brand development, said yesterday.
By 2016, its outlets will double again to 80.
Regionally, Thailand and China have shown good potential, with growing economies and earnings. China will play a bigger role over the next few years by contributing 50 per cent of the group’s sales, up from 30 per cent now.
Now, half of the group’s sales come from Singapore and the remaining 20 per cent from overseas markets besides China. The group operates in 17 nations across Asia, including the Middle East.
By 2014, the group plans to increase its outlets in Asia to 1,000 from 520 now and by 2016 increase its total sales to 1 billion Singapore dollars (Bt24.94 billion) from S$300 million last year. It hopes to keep clipping along at 25-per-cent growth per year.
BreadTalk entered Thailand in 2004 with its first shop after it was founded in Singapore in 2000 and was listed on the Singapore Exchange in 2003.
Yesterday was the grand opening of the second Food Republic in the country, at Central Plaza Grand mall on Rama IX Road. The third branch is coming this year, but the location was not disclosed. The food court business was expected to achieve sales of Bt120 million-Bt140 million this year.
In Asia, Food Republic food courts can also be found in Singapore, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and Hong Kong with 39 outlets, generating Bt2.3 billion in sales last year.
