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Published on February 15, 2008

Srithai Superware, Thailand's top producer and exporter of melamine and plastic tableware, plans joint manufacturing with Lock & Lock next year after recently gaining exclusive distributorship for the South Korean company's food containers.

Lock & Lock is the leading manufacturer of four-lock plastic food containers in South Korea with an 80-per-cent market share.

Srithai chairman and president Sanan Angubolkul yesterday said his company had been appointed sole Thai distributor of plastic food containers and had begun marketing Lock & Lock products at the beginning of the year.

The company has started negotiations about further cooperation with Lock & Lock, but there has been no agreement so far.

However, he believes Srithai has a good chance to widen its collaboration with the company and cooperation could begin next year.

"Srithai has a manufacturing facility in Vietnam, which already produces containers for Lock & Lock. If we agree a collaboration deal, production at the plant will be increased for export. However, we want to make Lock & Lock a strong brand name in Thailand before distributing the products overseas," Sanan said.

Yesterday, Srithai opened its Lock & Lock flagship outlet at Seacon Square shopping mall. The company plans to open two additional shops in Soi Thonglor and Siam Square this year, he said.

He added that Lock & Lock would provide the investment for the opening of all shops in Thailand, while Srithai would handle the marketing activities. The company plans to spend Bt50 million this year in promoting the brand.

"We expect to generate revenue of Bt100 million from Lock & Lock products and have targeted total revenue of Bt5.2 billion this year," Sanun said.

Lock & Lock plastic food containers are exported to 90 countries and the company aims to increase this to 100 markets this year.

Nalin Viboonchart

The Nation