Theppadungporn targets Mideast, Japan

The company currently exports its flagship processed products – including virgin coconut oil, desiccated coconut, coconut water and lite coconut milk – to 27 markets around the world.

Fifty-five per cent of its shipments go to the US and Canada, 16 per cent to Oceania, including Australia and New Zealand, 15 per cent to Asia-Pacific, and about 13 per cent to Europe.

Exports contribute about 80 per cent of the company’s revenue.

Nuntinee Theppadungporn, export sales and marketing manager, said the company now aimed to expand its share in many strategic markets, including the US, Canada, Australia and Japan, for its flagship products.

“We recently took part in two well-known international food and beverage trade shows, ‘Gulfood 2015’ and ‘Foodex Japan 2015’, held in Dubai and Tokyu. We gained overwhelming purchase orders from the fairs, which will drive our production line to operate at full capacity by the end of the current year,” said Nuntinee, a third-generation member of the Theppadungporn family’s business operation.

“Arabian local foods require lite coconut milk as one of the key ingredients in combination with curry paste. It is an ideal choice for them in bringing the rich taste of coconut milk into their favourite dishes.

“Chaokoh desiccated coconut is also used to make their main dishes, desserts and bakeries more appetising and delicious. Coconut water continues to be a classic choice of preference for Middle East consumers, as it is suitable for the hot and dry weather of the area,” she said.

“In Japan, coconut oil has been widely recognised as a health product. Not only used for oil pulling, skincare and hair treatment, as well as in cooking and bakery, it is also leveraged as a prime ingredient in the manufacture of fast-growing cosmetics and medical supplies,” she added.

Theppadungporn Coconut has two manufacturing plants, both located at Phutthamonthon Sai 4 Road, in Nakhon Pathom province.

The Chaokoh Factory, which employs about 1,200 workers, has a production capacity of 80,000 tonnes per annum of processed coconut products under the Chaokoh brand, ready-to-use curry products under the Mae Ploy brand, and canned vegetables and fruits under the Yod Doi brand.

The Mae Ploy Factory employs 500 people in the production of sauces, curry dishes and Thai seasonings, and has a capacity of 18,000 tonnes per year.

Nuntinee said the company had invested Bt300 million at the beginning of this year in capacity expansion at the two facilities, with the work scheduled for completion by the end of the current quarter.

Under the expansion, the Chaokoh Factory will increase its annual production capacity to 120,000 tonnes, while capacity at the Mae Ploy Factory will rise to 20,000 tonnes.

Theppadungporn Coconut posted about Bt6 billion in overall sales last year, up 30 per cent over the previous year, driven by better efficiency in the management of raw materials.

Sales are expected to increase by between 3 per cent and 5 per cent this year, she said.

“Participating in such leading international food and beverage exhibitions is part of the market expansion that we are undertaking on a continual basis. 

“This has encouraged us to keep pace with the rapidly changing world market and develop innovative solutions to satisfy customer requirements,” said Nuntinee.