With the aim of building a balanced portfolio to drive toward sustainable growth, Krungsri will deploy digital technology and innovation to provide total financial-solution services, and continue to leverage synergy between its local expertise and the global strength of its ultimate parent, Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG).

For this year, the bank’s commercial banking operation targets loan growth of 6-8 per cent, and deposit growth at the same level.

Pornsanong Tuchinda, Krungsri’s head of commercial banking, said on Tuesday: “Krungsri’s commercial banking group succeeded in building asset growth under the first medium-term business plan during 2015-2017, with an average loan growth of 7.5 per cent per year and average deposit growth of 5 per cent a year.

“This reflected our capabilities to build on our success after the integration between Krungsri and BTMU [Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ] Bangkok Branch, and the collaboration with MUFG’s global network.”

Grassi has more than 22 years’ experience with Bata and spent the last 11 years as managing director in Singapore, Italy and Malaysia. He oversaw retail networks, franchising and wholesale and streamlined team structures and business processes.

“Thanks to my strong and experienced team, I am confident we will be able to achieve our goals and keep the brand at the top of customers’ minds,” said Grassi.

At Bata Thailand, Grassi is working on making the company the leading international fashion retailer in Thailand by providing high-quality, stylish and comfortable shoes at affordable prices at the 251 Bata stores countrywide.

With Thailand’s fashion-conscious consumer base and a flourishing tourism sector, he sees a lot of potential for growth and expansion.

To gain the necessary exposure, Grassi will lead Bata in building partnerships with popular local retail destinations and establishing collaborations with respected personalities as brand ambassadors. Bata’s marketing team will continuously revise strategy to create a larger market share by launching new collections supported by strong marketing activities.

“We are looking forward to working more closely with our local retail partners to better distribute our products in the Thai market. With Bata’s hip style, frequently released new collections and focus on high-quality products, I am sure we can become the country’s top international footwear retailer,” said Grassi.

It is targeting 15-20-per-cent growth by the end of 2018 with new product Anlene MovMax, said to build healthy bones, joints and muscle for better mobility.

“Across Southeast Asia, dairy consumption is rising, with dairy demand growing by 4-5 per cent every year,” said Fonterra Brands (Thailand) managing director Paul Andrew Richards. “On top of that, we see some growing consumer trends in Thailand on which we are well placed to capitalise, with consumers placing more focus on better nutrition and healthier lifestyles through different stages of life.

“For Anlene, we see huge opportunity in Thailand. Thailand is one of Asia’s strategic markets, with the largest contribution to Anlene business among six markets, including the Philippines and Cambodia. Anlene’s ambition is to champion healthy living over the next 3-5 years.

“This Anlene relaunch is being implemented across the region. We expect that it will grow Anlene by 15-20 per cent across all markets by the end of this year. Currently in Thailand, Anlene is in a leading position, with about 40 per cent market share in the adult milk market. This adult segment is valued at Bt2.5 billion with market growth at 5 per cent.”

MINT also reported net profit of Bt1.611 billion in the fourth quarter of last year, a 20 per cent increase from core net profit of Bt1.347 billion over the same period of 2016.

MINT is a global company focused on three core businesses: restaurants, hospitality and lifestyle brands distribution.

The company has announced a restructuring of its marketing management team. Launching of new products strengthens Sappe’s emphasis on innovation with the company expecting a sales growth of 10 per cent this year.

Piyajit Rakariyapong, CEO, said the company aims to satisfy healthy-conscious consumers and the growth rate of the functional drink industry in 2018 is expected to improve from previous years due to new product launchs as well as formula adjustment for sugar reduction. The government has announced the new measure of sweet tax collection with a two-year preparation period prior to the effective date on October 1, 2020. It has led to the on-going changes within the beverage industry.

Firece competition is expected to continue this year with entrepreneurs within the industry putting in efforts and investment in marketing activities in order to establish new product awareness.

Marketing spending will include sales promotion either with retail stores in order to stimulate additional product stocking or at outlets and fridges to stimulate buying decision and boost sales volume.

It is confident that the beverage market this year will definitely be more vigorous and colorful than previous years.

“The sweet tax measure is one of the most important factors of the beverage industry this year. It sets the focus in new product development of the beverage companies on formula adjustment while reducing sugar. Sappe’s research and development team has prepared for the situation. In addition, its long-term target remains taking part in helping Thai people improve their health, following the company’s mission and the government’s policy”, said Piyajit.

He said the company’s marketing plan this year is focused on its strength in innovation and to establish a difference from its competitors in order to enter more oversea and local markets.

Meanwhile, it has reinforced its management team for sales and marketing with Worapong Kietdumrongwong as Chief Commercial Officer.

Worapong has 27 years of experience in sales and marketing , having served as senior executive in multinational companies, responsibe for strategy development, providing oversea and local marketing plans, taking care of overall corporate communication and public relations with efficiency.

“This year, we have reinforced the management team with experienced and skillful executives from the food and beverage industry in order to pursue our aggressive marketing expansion. We have a plan to expand our product portfolio within new product groups and to new countries with confidence that this will lead to a 10-per cent growth as planned,” she said.

Dr Sermsakul Wongtiraporn, managing director said “this is a good year to launch a new dental innovation brought in by Bangkok Smile. The technique will help those who lose their teeth naturally or accidentally as well as those who need implants for their personal health.

At the launch, Dr Paulo Malo, founder and CEO of alo Clinic, gave a lecture on the technique at the two-day Dentistry Association Conference, held in December at Paragon Hall.

Malo said: “this is a great opportunity to be able to provide information on this great technique here in Thailand as well as being able to update the advancement of implants to dentists around the world. This technique is very effective by operating right at the point. I believe that Bangkok Smile, our partner in Thailand with more than 15-year experiences of taking care of 8,000 clients. Bangkok Smile is the first clinic in Southeast Asia which has cooperation with Malo Clinic, one of the world’s leading clinic with branches in 5 continents, 20 countries, 54 cities around the world.

Malo clinic is the leader in implant dentistry and is the originator of Malo technique. Bangkok Smile is the first clinic in Southeast Asia offering this technique.

It replaces a new set of teeth for those who lose their natural teeth by placing implants at the angle of 45 degrees.

“This technique allow patients who do not have bones to have surgery without bone graft, returning smiles back within 24 hours to become a new person with more confidence,” the company said.

Bangkok Smile is certified with ISO 9001 from Malo Clinic for its dental lab and implant materials and patients can be confident that implants from Bangkok Smile Malo Clinic come with high standard and quality, it added.

TCC Assets Company Limited has announced the appointment of Thai Obayashi Corporation Limited as construction contractor for the first phase of The PARQ, a 20-billion-baht mixed-use development that aims to be the first property in Thailand to be both LEED Gold and WELL certified. Adjacent to Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC), The PARQ will cement the area as a dynamic business district, and central Bangkok’s largest city-centre meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) hub.

Su Lin Soon, CEO – Development, The PARQ, said, “With more than four decades of in-market experience, Thai Obayashi has an excellent track record including Park Ventures Ecoplex and FYI Center.

We have appointed Thai Obayashi as construction contractor for the first phase of The PARQ to ensure a well-executed project, providing successful delivery of exceptional quality construction that our project vision requires.”

The PARQ’s first phase of development totals 71,000 square metres of net leasable area including 60,000 square metres of premium office space, offering the largest column-free floor plates in Bangkok.

To complement and further enhance the urban lifestyle, 11,000 square metres are allocated to premium retail spaces, restaurants, a supermarket and a food court under the ‘Eat Well and Shop Well’ concept.

A retail destination for the neighbourhood, the shops and restaurants at The PARQ will be curated to meet everyday needs for convenience and to promote a healthy lifestyle for people working or enjoying activities in and around the development.

In addition, over 7,000 square metres of green and open area on property, as well as innovative eco-friendly WELL and LEED rated initiatives will give domestic and multinational companies an opportunity to create a truly healthy work environment for their employees.

Conveniently located next to lively Benjakitti Park and QSNCC MRT Station, THE PARQ is a natural extension to Bangkok’s central business district.

Plan set for big push in Asean, overseas markets

Index Creative Village will this year focus on trade fair extension, pursuing both national and international markets, branding and connect trade network and investments covering industries of construction, food and beverages, retailing and tourism in response to consumers’ lifestyles, connecting business experiences on an international level through different platform creations as well supporting business growth internationally.

Kriengkrai Kanjanapokin, founder and group CEO, said with the company’s intention to expand the business using “creativity” as a main focus, Index Creative Village’s business in Thailand has grown strongly and expanded its business opportunities towards the international market, stepping further to become an international company.

The company has the ability to create various forms of work which is not limited to event establishments in the European and Asian regions.

It is active in the Asean region, especially in Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia.

It can be said that Index Creative Village is well-equipped with manpower, tools and expertise in marketing to analyse and do research emphasising on accuracy in marketing efficiently, including the company’s strategy modification to match the modern era.

Index Creative Village is trusted and well-known both in the public and private sectors.

Insurer unveils 4-point strategy for 2018

Allianz Ayudhya Assurance Plc has announced a four-point 2018 strategy for sustainable growth with the short-term aim of achieving premiums totalling Bt34 billion this year.

The approach will aim to establish the company as a digital leader and protection leader, while also supporting all distribution channels to drive the premium, and maintaining customer loyalty as reflected in its high Leader of Net Promoter Score (NPS).

The company’s chief executive officer, Bryan Smith, said in a Monday press release that 2017 saw the company introduce many innovations in products, services, customers and distribution support, as well as nurture a start-up community in Thailand.

All of the initiatives have been well-recognised by all stakeholders, Smith said in the release, particularly in distribution channels with the company increasing new agents by 10 per cent.

Donation of almond milk to the disabled

Heritage Thailand Foundation, led by Suriya Moonsri, right, National Sales Director of Heritage Group recently donated Almond Breeze almond milk by “Blue Diamond” to the Foundation of Disabled Person at Bann Bang Pakong. The foundation is part of Heritage Group’s CSR programme that aims to help improve disabled persons’ education and facilities. On this occasion, 200 boxes of almond milk were received by the representative from the Foundation of Disabled person at Chachoengsao.

Developer banking on digital platforms

Plus Property, the full-service professional property and facility management agency, has disclosed its business plan for 2018, revealing bright prospects after having detected growth signals in the economy – notably transportation infrastructure investment – that will contribute to the growth of the real estate |sector.

The company is aiming for an 18 per cent expansion in yearly income, while also striving to become the top-of-mind brand for customers in the sale and property management businesses.

Plus also plans to utilise big data to create products and services that better tailor to clients, while also bringing in technologies to boost work efficiency.

Anukul Ratpitaksanti, managing director of Plus Property Co Ltd, indicated that 2018 would be a year with positive factors contributing to the real estate sector, as it would be a year in which the government continues to spend on transportation development. A record amount of funds – around 30 per cent of the national investment budget – is |slated to be used for infrastructure development.

Such investment will benefit the expansion of the property sector over the current 2-3 years period, and this would be especially true for the condominiums market because it was a market that accommodates real residency as well as investment.

Nevertheless, there are two factors that have to be monitored.

The first is the urban planning law that is expected to be enacted soon; the changes that come with the new law will have to be closely studied. The second factor is the issue of labour shortage, which effects various industries including real estate.

The approach will aim to establish the company as a digital leader and protection leader, while also supporting all distribution channels to drive the premium, and maintaining customer loyalty as reflected in its high Leader of Net Promoter Score (NPS).

The company’s chief executive officer, Bryan Smith, said in a Monday press release that 2017 saw the company introduce many innovations in products, services, customers and distribution support, as well as nurture a start-up community in Thailand.

All of the initiatives have been well-recognised by all stakeholders, Smith said in the release, particularly in distribution channels with the company increasing new agents by 10 per cent.

EGCO president Jakgrich Pibulpairoj said the group had entered into a Share Purchase Agreement with the Manila Water Company to sell all its shares, equal to an 18.72 per cent stake.

It plans to use the proceeds for further business expansion and the transaction is expected to be completed within the first quarter of 2018.