Males boosts export sales 22% in first quarter

MALEE recorded export sales growth of 22 per cent year on year in the first quarter, with net profit rising 8 per cent to Bt118 million.
Roongchat Boonyarat, chief operating officer of Malee Group Public Co Ltd, said, “In the first quarter, export sales continued to grow outstandingly by 22 per cent, especially from the export sales in our own branded business which grew by 30 per cent. This resulted from the company’s strategy in setting up strategic plans for each focused country properly.
“In the quarter, the company and its subsidiaries recorded sales of Bt1.515 billion, a decrease of 1 per cent year on year due to the slowdown of domestic sales in contract manufacturing business (CMG) and branded business (Brand), especially from the drop of domestic sales in canned fruit.
“However, export sales continued to grow outstandingly, both in Brand and CMG business. Although total sales in Q1/2017 slightly decreased, the company managed to generate net profit of Bt118 million, encouraged by the company’s strategy and internal management for efficiency enhancement and cost reduction.
“The Ccmpany’s joint venture in the Philippines, Monde Malee Beverage Corporation (MMBC), continued to be one of the major growth sales engines to drive the company’s export sales. MMBC has launched its second product, the jelly drink, under the brand of “Jelly Vit” since  mid-March, and the feedback was well received.
“The company is confident that it will be able to accomplish target sales growth of 10-15 per cent in 2017 by maintaining growth of Brand and CMG businesses, both of which will grow domestically and internationally. Export sales growth tends to grow at a higher rate than domestic due to its greater opportunities. 
“Furthermore, the company has been working closely with its distributors or partners in each country in cooperatively setting up strategic plans to select the right product and marketing strategy for each focused country, such as emerging countries in Asean as well as China.
“The company is in the process of improving the plant facilities and machinery for production efficiency enhancement and cost reduction. The entire process will take approximately three years, starting from 2016, continuing to 2017, and expecting to complete in 2018. The machinery improvement will include the replacement of a new manufacturing line which is expected to be ready for production in the fourth quarter.
“The new manufacturing line is currently the world’s best technology and will allow the company to produce a wider range of products with higher production efficiency and lower production cost. The greater production capability of the new machinery line will also create more prospects to gain new customers or new products from currently, thus improving the company’s sales, earnings as well as profitability