CP Foods cuts investment budget

The approach would have to be very cautious and selective and the “focus”
would have to be market development, sales distribution, channel expansion and
high-potential projects in countries such as Russia, India and
Malaysia.

The group’s annual investment expenditure will be reduced by
half to Bt2-Bt2.5 billion (€41m-€51m) next year from the previous Bt5 billion
(€102.5m), but it will continue to boost product quality and manufacturing
efficiency.

The global recession and downward trend of raw material
prices have also prompted CPF to adjust its sales and marketing policy. Now, it
will try to lengthen contracts signed with business partners and clients, while
reducing raw material inventory to lower production costs. At present, its order
backlog extends to the second quarter of next year.

This will help avoid
risks from the global economic downturn, particularly the impacts on CPF’s major
export markets, the US, European Union and Japan.

Market
development
The company will also focus next year on such marketing
activities as brand building and overseas market expansion into Russia, for
example. More hi-tech, automated equipment would be installed in plants to
reduce energy consumption and boost productivity, Adirek Sirpratak said.

The company expects its sales to grow by 5% next year, up from this
year’s Bt150 billion (€3.08b). Domestic sales now account for 60-65% of the
total sales, while the overseas investments generate 16-18% with the rest
generated by export sales.

The animal feed business currently contributes
35% of total sales, with 55% from livestock and aquaculture and 10% from
processed foods. In the long- term 10 year plan, processed foods should
contribute 50% of revenues with the balance coming from animal feed, livestock
and aquaculture.