Central Restaurants Group Co (CRG), a major foodservice operator in Thailand, has ramped up its investment spending in the bakery and beverage business this year, as it projected positive bakery prospects with the mass vaccination scheme.
Sucheep Tamacheepjareon, the company’s Chief Operating Officer for bakery and beverage cuisine said, “Our bakery business has a slight impact from COVID-19 because 70% of the business relies on take-away and 25% from delivery. With the hope of a positive bakery outlook in the 4th quarter of this year, due to the nationwide vaccinations, we decided to resume our investment by more than doubling our spending to Bt 220 million (US$6.7 million) this year.”
CRG plans to open 100 bakery and beverage shops from 4 brands this year which include Mister Donut, Auntie Anne’s, Cold Stone Creamery and Arigato coffee. Of the total, 70 outlets are under the ‘delco’ (delivery and carryout ) concept, with the remainder stand-alone shops, mobile tuk-tuks and shops at malls. CRG also plans to open more shops out of malls to minimise business risk. Delco outlets are planned at petrol stations to reach target groups as well as at certain branches of CRC Thai Watsadu Co, a home improvement unit under Central Retail Corp.
CRG has also launched mobile tuk-tuk as a new distribution channel to conveniently reach customers at large markets, schools and universities within a 10 to 20 km radius.
CRG will also restart expanding its Mister Donut via the franchise model in the 3rd quarter of this year after a 2-decade hiatus. It also plans to expand the Auntie Anne’s franchise for the first time in the 4th quarter of this year.
