AJINOMOTO CO., INC.
15-1, Kyobashi 1-chome Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-8315, Japan TEL: + 81-3-5250-8180 |
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Ajinomoto Expands Instant Noodle Production Line in Thailand
Toward a Number-Two Share for Yum Yum Noodles in Thailand
May 30, 2003－Ajinomoto Co.,Inc.(Ajinomoto)－In connection with the expansion
in demand for easy-to-prepare, delicious instant noodles in Thailand and
the increase in the volume of exports to neighboring countries, Ajinomoto
Co., Inc. (Ajinomoto) has recently expanded its production line. In tandem
with this capacity expansion, Ajinomoto will also strengthen its marketing
activities to build the market share of its Yum Yum brand and achieve the
number-two position in the market.
Ajinomoto established Ajinomoto Co., (Thailand) Ltd. in 1960 for sales
of AJI-NO-MOTO, and first diversified its operations in 1971, when it entered
the noodle business by investing in Wan Thai Foods Industry Co., Ltd. Sales
of Yum Yum noodles began in 1973, and sales in 2002 amounted to 1.5 billion
baht (\4.2 billion), an increase of 7 percent over the previous year.
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Wan Thai Foods Industry Co., Ltd. Company Overview
Company name:
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Wan Thai Foods Industry Co., Ltd. (Bangkok, Thailand)
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Date of establishment:
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1971 (Number of employees: 600)
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Production volume:
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Approximately 24,000tons/year
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Main products produced:
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Instant noodles
(50 varieties including both pillow-type and cup-type)
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Unit price:
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Pillow-type 5 baht (approx. \14)
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Sales area:
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Thailand and export sales to approximately 40 countries
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Amount of recent capital investment:
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110 million baht (approx. \300 million)
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The instant noodle market in Thailand is approximately 9 billion baht (an
increase of 5 percent compared to the previous year; approximately 2 billion
servings/year). With a population in Thailand of some 62 million, that comes
to an average of about 32 servings per person each year. Most individual
servings are relatively small, primarily around 55 grams, for enjoyable eating
any time, anywhere. Delicious pillow-type and cup-type noodles with Thai
flavors such as tom yam goong that can be enjoyed in a wide range of situations
have recently been growing in popularity.
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