Corn milk, the next UHT?
Thailand's largest conglomerate, the Charoen Pokphand Group, plans
to switch to producing UHT corn milk, instead of pasteurised corn
milk, aiming to extend shelf life of the product from one week to
between six and 12 months, according to president Montri
Congtrakultien, writes the Bangkok Post.
The CP Crop Integration Business Group (CPCI), a subsidiary of Thailand's largest conglomerate, the Charoen Pokphand Group, plans to switch to producing UHT corn milk, instead of pasteurised corn milk, aiming to extend shelf life of the product from one week to between six and 12 months, according to president Montri Congtrakultien, writes the Bangkok Post.
Corn milk is one of several new product lines for CPCI, and is expected to generate up to 15-20 per cent of its total revenues for this year, the report continues. CPCI currently projects 2003 revenues at 3.5 billion baht (€0.07bn), up 10 per cent from last year.
CPCI plans to use its flagship seed distribution business - that accounts for 60 per cent of the company's projected revenue - to drive overall growth. The company has developed a hybrid rice seed, which is expected to contribute more revenue in the next two years.
Mr Montri said the longer shelf life of pasteurised corn milk would improve the company's competitiveness in the dairy segment, adds the report. Short shelf life has limited the distribution of pasteurised corn milk, which is currently available only in major cities and Golden Place shops. Mr Montri also said the company had temporarily stopped producing ice-cream, another new business, because it lacked its own ice-cream plant.
