The Cheat Code For Thai Market Entry

How F&B execs can take a shortcut to growth in the Thai market.

Thailand’s food and beverage industry is thriving. But neighboring markets like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan often steal its spotlight. Because of this, many F&B industry players are unaware of some of the innovative strategies that are available to unlock opportunities in Thailand. Today we will explore one such opportunity that, if managed effectively, can really expedite your growth in the Thai market.

Today:

  • In The News: Paris Baguette takes over the US, cultivated meat gets US approval, and much more.

  • Innovation Deep Dive: Igniting F&B Growth With Strategic Partners In Thailand

header image showing map of thailand

📰 In The News

A curation of our favorite F&B innovation stories from the week. Can be read in less than a 🧻 break.

🚀 Innovation Deep Dive: Igniting F&B Growth With Strategic Partners In Thailand

Weekly deep dive into an F&B trend. Can be read in less than a 🚋 ride.

Thailand's bustling food and beverage sector has largely remained underexplored by international players, despite the abundant potential it holds. An unconventional yet promising route to enter this exciting market lies in the realm of strategic partnerships with Thai conglomerates.

Henry Woodward-Fisher, a local authority in the sector, lends his expertise on this subject. Assisting various established and innovative F&B brands to seize opportunities in Thailand, Fisher endorses strategic partnerships as a compelling way for certain businesses to penetrate this market.

While traditional methods may yield substantial growth, particularly for established brands, innovative products or major brands seeking rapid market entry could witness a higher level of growth potential via strategic partnerships.

Henry Woodward-Fisher

The Thai Appeal

Thailand, positioned at the heart of the Asia Pacific region, stands as a dynamic force in the F&B industry. It owes its vitality to state-backed incentives, plentiful agricultural resources, and a passionate consumer base, augmented by the steady inflow of tourists.

Thai conglomerates harbor ambitions of scaling Thailand's role in the APAC region, aspiring for Bangkok to rival Tokyo and Singapore. Strategic partnerships are increasingly viewed as an effective vehicle to stimulate growth in the local market.

Henry Woodward-Fisher

The Allure of Strategic Partnerships

By aligning with influential Thai corporations, international F&B brands could experience an accelerated rise to prominence within the local market. The benefits transcend market entry, extending to possible expansion into other APAC regions where your Thai ally has an established footprint.

picture of seven eleven one of the big channels in thailands food and beverage industry

Share insights with your colleagues and friends:

Leveraging partnerships with heavyweights such as CP Foods, Thai Union, ThaiBev, and Boon Rawd could offer immediate access to their vast local resources and proficiency.

These conglomerates' extensive distribution networks, marketing acumen, and in-depth comprehension of local consumer preferences can expedite the reach of your product, while concurrently offering significant operational cost savings.

 Henry Woodward-Fisher

Existing successful partnerships, like the alliance between US burger chain Big Boy and Destination Group, or the strategic cooperation between Japanese seafood supplier Uoriki and CP Foods, exemplify the growth potential of such collaborations in the Thai market.

Assessing the Suitability of Strategic Partnerships

While establishing a standalone presence and the traditional route of finding an importer and distributor are viable approaches to the Thai market, they require time and investment. Strategic partnerships can provide a rapid growth trajectory in Thailand, but they're not a universal fit.

Henry Woodward-Fisher

The appropriateness of a strategic partnership for your brand hinges on having a distinctive product, a robust brand, or innovative food technology that can pique the interest of these Thai conglomerates. If your brand is on the verge of emulating Starbucks' success or if your product is garnering attention in global markets like London or Dubai, strategic partnerships may unlock extraordinary growth in Thailand.

Like what you’re reading?

However, success demands a nuanced understanding of the local culture and business environment, the establishment of personal relationships, and a shared passion for food that's deeply imbued in your product and business approach.

Considering a Leap into Thailand's Vibrant F&B Market?

GourmetPro is equipped to assist. Our seasoned industry professionals can provide invaluable insights, facilitate connections with strategic partners, and chart your success trajectory in this thriving market.

For an in-depth exploration of strategic partnerships in Thailand's F&B industry, please refer to the full article here.

Meet The Expert: Henry Woodward-Fisher

Henry Woodward-Fisher is an entrepreneur and industry expert with a keen understanding of food, beverage, and technology trends in the Asia-Pacific region. His impressive tenure as Senior Manager for Impossible Foods in Singapore, where he secured strategic partnerships, managed cross-functional teams, and orchestrated successful launches in various high-priority international markets, illustrates his aptitude for the global food and beverage scene. His remarkable track record of increasing sales by 112% at JING Tea underscores his exceptional business development skills in the East Asia Pacific region.

That’s all folks

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter.

Share your ideas for how we can improve with this 30-second, anonymous, 2-question survey:

See you next week as we explore a shockingly overlooked aspects of the Thai market that could have it rival Singapore for top spot to set up F&B operations in APAC.

GourmetPro is a global network of elite food and beverage industry talents. We provide fractional hiring solutions, allowing international managing directors to scale and transform their local resources and teams with high flexibility and expertise in more than 20 countries. Explore our services.

💌 If you have any questions, you can directly answer this email. We read and answer all messages.

💖 And if you think someone you know might be interested in this edition of Market Shake, feel free to simply forward this email or click the button below. 💖

👉 P.S.: GourmetPro is also on Linkedin and Twitter!