Swensen’s Plans Big Overseas Expansion

BangkokPost:

The local operator of the Swensen’s ice-cream chain plans to open nearly 100 restaurants in 16 countries in an effort to broaden its horizons from the saturated Thai market.

Swensen’s (Thai) Limited holds a licence to operate the American ice cream chain in 16 Asian countries, and will make the investments either with its own funds or through joint ventures, said general manager Choompot Tantisoonthorn.

‘We will aggressively expand our ice-cream outlets in overseas as market demand in Thailand is nearly saturated,’ he said yesterday.

New Swensen’s outlets will be opened to cover 16 countries by 2010. As of now, the company operates restaurants in Kuwait, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Thailand.

The business plan for Swensen’s Thai calls for 250 restaurants across Asia by 2010, up from 156 this year, Mr Choompot said. Most of the additional outlets will be operated under franchise format.