Briefs

Minor International (MINT) has extended its presence to Sri Lanka with the Bt37.6-million acquisition of a hotel and resort project.  
Its 80.1-per-cent-owned subsidiary Jada Resort and Spa last month acquired the 100-per-cent stake in Paradise Island Resorts, Minor International said in a statement to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
The stake was sold by Seller City Developers International for 160.2 million Sri Lankan rupees (Bt37.6 million). Paradise Island Resorts is capitalised at 60 million rupees.
“The investment is to expand the firm’s hotel footprint globally and increase MINT’s presence in Sri Lanka,” said Trithip Sivakriskul, corporate chief financial officer.
MINT is today one of the largest hospitality companies in the Asia-Pacific region, with more than 70 hotels and resorts.

Raisers fret over saggin swine prices

Swine raisers yesterday complained that local hog prices had fallen for two consecutive months on a decline in local demand.
The Swine Raisers Association of Thailand said the price of live swine at farms is between Bt44 and Bt45 per kilogram, down Bt10 from last month.
The cost of piglets bred internally by the farms is Bt55 per kilo, while purchased piglets cost Bt57-Bt58 per kilo. The swine raisers face losses of about Bt1,000 per animal.

Siam Makro expo for rural retailers

Siam Makro has invited |retailers in the provinces to participate in the Regional Retailer Expo, which kicked |off yesterday.
Aue-Aungkul Tunvisut, area manager for the Northern region, said Siam Makro would host the expo under the theme “Thai Retailers to Stay Competitive”  until tomorrow at Makro’s Chiang Mai branch. The first and only roadshow dedicated to the retail business, the event is expected to attract many retailers and interested audiences from Chiang Mai and nearby provinces.
The Regional Retailer Expo is one of the activities under the Makro Retailer Alliance Project, which reflects the company’s commitment and dedication to retailers in terms of budget and creativity to develop and educate Thai retailers in retailing management, it says.

James Bond in Heineken ad

Heineken yesterday announced a new television and digital campaign in anticipation of the release of the 23rd James Bond adventure, “Skyfall”, which sees Daniel Craig bring his portrayal of 007 to a Heineken advert for the first time.
 Challenging consumers to defy his enemies and “Crack the Case”, he will take viewers on an epic train journey alongside stunning new Bond Girl Berenice Marlohe.
Rolling out worldwide, the “Crack the Case” campaign introduces viewers to an interactive experience that begins exactly where the TV advert leaves off.
Viewers are invited on to a train by Marlohe before it embarks on a voyage through a spectacular vista of snowy mountains.
Putting viewers through their paces, a series of gruelling tests will lead them to “Crack the Case” while protecting its contents from ferocious villains.
– The Nation