Tag: Thailand

Singapore – FairPrice Group (FPG) has unveiled a strategic partnership with Central Food Retail Group (CFG), a Thailand-based food retailer and operator of the Tops supermarket chain, to enhance Singaporeans’ access to an expanded range of authentic Thai food products and culinary experiences.

Under this memorandum of agreement (MoU), FairPrice supermarkets in Singapore, including Finest and Xtra, along with their convenience stores Cheers and FairPrice Xpress, as well as online platforms, will now offer over 30 popular Thai snacks, such as fruit chips, cookies, and genuine Thai seasonings and pastes.

Additionally, this MoU marks the first collaboration between FPG and a Thai retailer, establishing a two-way exchange of products. Central Food Retail Group’s branded and private label items, including ‘MY CHOICE’, ‘MY CHOICE THAI’, ‘TOPS’, and ‘SNACKER’, will be introduced to FairPrice stores. In return, FairPrice Group’s own housebrand products and national consumer brands, such as ‘Golden Chef’, will be featured in CFG’s retail outlets.

Singaporeans’ love and appreciation for authentic Thai food and snacks are the focus of FPG’s collaboration with CFG. Furthermore, the partnership aims to enrich Singapore’s culinary landscape by making a diverse range of international flavours more accessible to shoppers.

Commenting on the partnership, Stephane Coum, CEO of Central Food Retail at Central Group, shared, “We are thrilled to partner with FairPrice Group, Singapore’s largest and most respected retailer. Through this collaboration, we aim to bring the best of Thai products to Singaporean consumers, offering them a taste of our rich culinary heritage. This partnership is a significant step forward in our vision of becoming a ‘Truly World-Class Omni-Channel Lifestyle Food Retail’ provider.” 

“By expanding our own brands, such as My Choice Thai, and supporting local SMEs under Tops Tongtin, we are not only introducing high-quality Thai products to an international market but also enhancing the omnichannel shopping experience for consumers in Singapore and Thailand. Leveraging FairPrice Group’s strong network, we ensure our products reach a wide audience, seamlessly integrating in-store and online platforms, which is core to our world-class retail strategy,” she continued. 

CFG, a subsidiary of Central Retail, operates Tops, one of Thailand’s largest supermarket chains, including Tops Food Hall, Tops Daily, Tops Online, and Matsukiyo with over 700 outlets nationwide.

FPG’s partnership with CFG is its second MoU focused on enriching Singapore’s culinary scene with global flavours, following a recent collaboration with South Korea’s LOTTE Retail. These efforts highlight FairPrice Group’s commitment to broadening Singaporeans’ access to diverse and authentic international cuisines.

Vipul Chawla, group CEO of FairPrice Group, said, “Singapore’s appreciation for Thai cuisine is stronger than ever, and as Singapore’s largest retailer, we’re thrilled to elevate that experience. With more Singaporeans travelling to Thailand and developing a deeper appreciation for Thailand’s rich culinary heritage, the demand for authentic Thai flavours at home is undeniable.” 

“Our partnership with CFG bridges this gap, bringing the vibrant tastes of Thailand directly to your table. Now, shoppers can effortlessly relive cherished culinary memories and savour the true essence of Thai cuisine, right here in our FairPrice stores,” Chawla added. 

Thailand – Dentsu International is enhancing its customer experience (CX) management in Southeast Asia (SEA) with the launch of marketing agency Merkle in Thailand. 

Merkle’s launch in Thailand comes after the market attained a significant increase in marketing technology investments. With the rising expectations for customer experience and brand interaction, Merkle Thailand leverages its Experience and Service Design Consulting, CRM and Customer Engagement/Loyalty, Data Strategy and CDP, as well as Omnichannel Commerce to secure long-term customer loyalty while extending business growth opportunities to brands. 

The expansion of Merkle through its Thailand launch contributes to enabling enhanced and transformative digital marketing in SEA. 

“SEA is an awakening dragon, and as a dentsu cluster that was born to soar with the dragon, we are a rare partner with a glocalised lens to unlock the potential of the CX journey in this region. Particularly in Thailand, where CX has become an intrinsic part of any business looking to cut through the noise and connect with consumers, with Merkle now in Thailand, it will undoubtedly be able to help brands win on experience by reimagining sustainable CX strategies for business transformation. Merkle’s expanded footprint will also open up stronger possibilities for clients looking to be CX leaders in the era of SEA,” Sanjay Bhasin, chief executive officer of Dentsu SEA, said.

Apirada Benchakaranee, chief executive officer, CXM of Dentsu Thailand, said, “The dawn of AI-driven experiences is a seismic shift that can make CXM a daunting journey for many brands in Thailand, where consumers have radically evolved in their expectations and behaviours around brand experiences. At Merkle, we are purpose-built to partner ambitious brands in seizing opportunities, even amidst chaos, to deepen engagement with their most important consumers. We look forward to bringing this to brands that are ready to elevate their experience-led growth.”

Chun Yin Mak, president, CXM of Dentsu Asia Pacific, added, “As the only player in the industry that grew up in data, Merkle is an end-to-end experience transformation partner that is ready for an AI-first future. Our unrivalled integration of strategy, technology, design and data, enables us to power the experience economy, and we are delighted that we can now bring that same obsession to Thailand to help brands dream, do, and deliver the total experience for consumers.”

Over the years, Merkle’s growth in SEA includes over 300 experts in Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam.

Bangkok, Thailand – Mastercard has announced the appointment of Winnie Wong as its country manager for Thailand and Myanmar. In her new role, Winnie will oversee all Mastercard activities in the two markets, including business development, implementation of innovative, safe, and smart payments solutions for businesses and consumers, as well as the growth and delivery of commercial solutions to corporations and SMEs.

She brings over 20 years of experience in payments, commercial solutions and banking across Southeast Asian markets including Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia. 

Since joining Mastercard in 2013, she has partnered with governments and corporations to spearhead the adoption of B2B platforms, enhancing the efficiency and transparency of cross-border trade in Asia Pacific.

Winnie is also the country manager for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, a role she was appointed to in 2019 and which she continues to hold. In the past six years, Winnie played a pivotal role in establishing an ecosystem for safe and secure payments in these markets. She was also instrumental in engaging with regulators and stakeholders in creating a cashless and financially inclusive society in Vietnam. 

In addition, Winnie drives Mastercard’s global commitment to inclusion for women and has championed several initiatives for women’s empowerment. Notably, she led the launch of Mastercard Strive Women in Vietnam with CARE, an international humanitarian organisation. This program aims to strengthen the financial health and resilience of businesses, particularly micro and small businesses led by women, with a goal of reaching two million entrepreneurs in Vietnam within four years. Additionally, Winnie serves as the vice-chair for AmCham Vietnam.

Speaking on her new role, Winnie said, “It is my honour and privilege to take on this role and work alongside such a dedicated Mastercard team in Thailand and Myanmar. I look forward to partnering with Mastercard’s customers and partners as we shape the future of payments and digital innovation in Thailand together and contribute to the growth of its economy. I am especially excited to support the government’s agenda to build an innovative, secure and inclusive digital economy that benefits everyone – individuals and businesses alike.”

Meanwhile, Safdar Khan, division president for Southeast Asia at Mastercard, commented, “Winnie’s extensive experience across Southeast Asia will be greatly valuable to Mastercard in Thailand and Myanmar. Her deep insights into digital payments and commercial solutions, and her leadership across key strategic initiatives in this region will play a crucial role in contributing to the advancement of Thailand’s digital economy, the growth of its SME sector and its transition toward a cashless society.”

Bangkok, Thailand – Vertis, a Singapore-based digital agency focusing on digital experience (DX) platforms and customer-centric solutions, has launched its new head office in Bangkok, marking a significant milestone in its regional expansion.

Situated in the On Nut district, the new Bangkok office is Vertis’ second location in the Asia-Pacific region, designed to serve Thailand’s expanding digital industry.

Vertis intends to use its new Bangkok office as a hub for digital transformation innovations in Southeast Asia. Drawing on its successful collaborations with prominent Thai clients like Krungthai Bank, the company plans to deploy advanced technologies and bespoke services tailored to the specific needs of the Thai market, empowering local businesses to leverage digital transformation to achieve their strategic objectives.

The expansion underscores the company’s commitment to growth and its mission to drive innovation and elevate digital solutions for clients. Vertis currently employs 78 staff members and plans to increase its workforce to over 100 by 2025, extending its reach across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, India, and Australia.

Gurlin Singh Lamba, co-founder and CTO of Vertis, said, “As a digital consultancy at the forefront of digital transformation, we recognise the dynamic business environment in Thailand is a key market for us. The country’s robust digital infrastructure, growing adoption of cutting-edge technologies, and strategic importance in Southeast Asia make it an ideal location for our continued expansion. Moreover, our successful collaboration with Krungthai Bank has demonstrated the potential for impactful digital solutions in this market.” 

He added, “Our presence here will allow us to further leverage local tech talent, foster innovation, and drive digital transformation initiatives that meet the unique needs of our clients.”

Bangkok, Thailand – Gogolook, the developer of the Whoscall App, a leading digital anti-scam tool, has teamed up with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) to launch a special Mother’s Day campaign focused on safeguarding families from online scammers.

Titled #NoOneHangUpFasterThanYourMom, the campaign includes an educational video highlighting the risks of online scams targeting seniors through unsolicited calls and messages. The video features real-life stories, verified and authorised by those involved, and offers actionable steps to protect mothers, such as downloading the Whoscall app and contacting the Cyber Police Hotline at 1441.

As part of the campaign, Whoscall is offering 500,000 free 2-month premium basic codes as a Mother’s Day gift to help protect individuals and their mothers from online scams. By entering the code ‘WHOSCALLSAVEMOM’ in the Whoscall app, users will gain access to features including an automatic spam call blocker, real-time number database updates, and an SMS filter.

Whoscall’s campaign underscores its commitment to preventing online scams and empowering families. This initiative addresses the concerning CCIB data showing over 575,500 cybercrime cases in Thailand, causing over 65.715 billion baht in damages from March 2022 to June 2024, with 64% targeting women aged 30–60.

Monprapa Rattanakanokporn, country marketing lead of Gogolook Thailand, said, “Safeguarding our loved ones, especially from online scammers, has become more important than ever. While many of us are vigilant to avoid suspicious calls, our mothers might not be. Our recent insights revealed seniors are the most vulnerable target for online and phone scamming because they have large amounts of financial assets, such as savings, pensions, or retirement funds, and are less familiar with complex technology. Currently, Whoscall is one of the most popular digital anti-scam apps in Thailand. We are excited to collaborate with CCIB to launch an educational awareness video highlighting the importance of vigilance and offering a free premium code on the Whoscall app as the ultimate gifts of safety and peace of mind for our loved ones.” 

Pol. Lt.Col. Dr. Purimphat Thanaphansiri, deputy superintendent of police, Division 4, Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, also shared, “The surge in cybercrime has heightened public awareness, especially among younger generations who are more equipped to recognise and combat various scam tactics. However, this level of awareness does not extend to mothers or the elderly.” 

“According to the latest CCIB statistics, middle-aged women and the elderly, or mothers, are the primary targets of scammers. The top online scam cases that have caused the most damage in Thailand are online investment scams, resulting in nearly 70 billion baht of accumulated damages. This timely collaboration with Whoscall for Mother’s Day comes at a crucial moment where online scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and we look forward to working together with Whoscall to safeguard our communities and stay one step ahead to protect our most vulnerable citizen group,” he added. 

Bangkok, Thailand – Popular dating app Tinder has teamed up with Thailand TV production company TV Thunder to invite singles for the singles show ‘Take Me Out Thailand’, a show which has aired on Thai TV Channel 3 for over a decade. The collaboration of both brands are in line with the show’s new season ‘Take Me Out Thailand presented by Tinder’.

This collaboration showcases the popularity of online dating and the power of Tinder to create new opportunities for Thai singles to meet, while offering interactive and engaging dating experiences IRL through Take Make Out’s creative content.

Daniel Kim, vice president of marketing for Asia at Tinder, said, “A recent survey of Thai Gen Z found that almost 92% have had a romantic relationship that started on a dating app and this unique collaboration with Take Me Out further showcases how Tinder can spark online connections and create IRL opportunities for people to meet and develop relationships further.”

He added, “Users can add their Interests and create personalised bios, and with Tinder’s recently introduced AI Photo Selector choosing profile pictures that showcase your personality is now easier than ever before.”

Meanwhile, Nathakrit Wannapinyyo, chief operating officer at TV Thunder Public Company Ltd., commented, “Tinder has long provided users with the opportunity to meet singles on its platform, and Take Me Out aims to enhance this by bringing selected singles from the app to meet face-to-face on stage. We aim to make these IRL matches even more exciting and hope participants enjoy this unique dating experience.”

Bangkok, Thailand – To celebrate Thai flavours, KFC Thailand has launched its latest campaign, the ‘Zabb Festival,’ paying homage to the iconic Zabb taste by bringing back the fan-favourite KFC Crispy Zabb Skin to its menu. 

KFC’s ‘Zabb Festival’ is crafted for Thai cuisine lovers and spice enthusiasts. The campaign features flavour-packed menus, allowing fans to indulge in the return of the KFC Crispy Zabb Skin, now available in two new offerings: ‘The Box All Zabb’ and the ‘Zabb Snack Box’.

The campaign will run for a month and be available at over 300 KFC locations across 55 provinces in Thailand. This is part of KFC Thailand’s 40-year anniversary celebration, inviting Thais to create unforgettable memories with iconic local flavours.

Suhayl Limbada, market lead and chief marketing officer of KFC Thailand, said, “Our iconic Zabb taste is something worth celebrating. As we turn 40, we couldn’t think of a better way to mark the occasion than by offering a feast of Zabb-flavoured treats that will make every Zabb fan jump off their seats. In the best kind of way! This includes the return of our spicy chicken skin, but it’s only available in limited restaurants, so get it while you can.” 

Bangkok, Thailand – Local fried chicken chain Five Star has announced the launch of a new campaign titled ‘40 Years of Deliciousness That’s Worth Remembering’ created alongside BBDO Bangkok.

This campaign stands out by featuring iconic movie moments reimagined with real Five Star consumers. Picture the unforgettable water-shaking scene from the dinosaur blockbuster, the powerful Spartan kick, heart-racing Korean zombies on a train, and the tear-jerking sci-fi father-daughter reunion—all brought to life with a Five Star twist.

Moreover, the film highlights five of Five Star Chicken’s beloved products: grilled chicken, fried chicken, chicken rolls, chicken with fish sauce, and more. Even as I write this, I can’t help but crave a taste! The visionary behind this masterpiece is Thailand’s own Cannes award-winner, Teerapol Suneta from Suneta House, known for the innovative ‘The Movies That Made (From) Us’ and the viral sensation ‘My Parent is a Tiktoker.’

Thasorn Boonyanate, chief creative officer at BBDO Bangkok, captures the campaign’s essence perfectly, and said, “As we celebrate 40 years of Five Star Chicken, we want to remind our consumers of our core values. Unlike other brands that focus on frequent promotions, we ensure our products are always worth it—price, value, taste, and quality.”

He added, “From the polar oil used to fry our chicken in all 6,000 branches to the premium chicken rolls served in 5-star hotels, we maintain our commitment to excellence. Despite economic challenges, we never compromise on quality or quantity. Our brand is truly ‘worth it’ to remember, and we hope our audience enjoys this nostalgic cinematic journey and grabs a Five Star Chicken on their way home, during lunch, or anytime.”

Bangkok, Thailand – Roojai Online Insurance has been addressing a common question from the public: why use a kangaroo as the brand’s corporate identity (CI)? The answer comes with the launch of their latest campaign, “Minimise your frustration”, launched last month in partnership with BBDO Bangkok. 

This campaign is based on the insight that when it comes to accidents, everyone can become frustrated. However, with Roojai Online Insurance, embodied by the Roojai Kangaroo, we aim to “minimise your frustration” by showcasing the benefits and unique offerings of Roojai Online Insurance.

The centerpiece of the campaign is a film directed by Thailand’s Cannes-winning director, Un Wuthisak from Factory 01. The first film, “Triangle of Accident”, vividly illustrates how Roojai can transform a stressful situation into a manageable one, reducing the frustration associated with accidents to a minimum. With a touch of humor and striking visuals, the campaign effectively communicates the reliability and efficiency of Roojai’s services. The second film, “Uncle and Auntie”, demonstrates the exceptional results of a 4.7/5 review claim experience, which is as good as a 5/5.

Through this campaign, Roojai aims to reinforce its commitment to customer satisfaction and solidify its brand identity with the iconic kangaroo, symbolising agility, support, and care. Experience the new Roojai Online Insurance campaign and see how the Roojai Kangaroo can make a difference in times of need.

Bangkok, Thailand – Antsomi, a regional marketing technology company, has announced the launch of Antsomi CDP 365 on LINE OA, its solution designed for marketing on top of the LINE messaging platform via brands’ LINE Official Account (OA) in the Thai market. This strategic launch is in collaboration with H+ Thailand, and will be part of their CRM one-stop solution, ‘H+ CRM Suite.’

Antsomi CDP 365 on LINE OA offers full-funnel capabilities for data-driven marketing on top of the LINE messaging platform, enabling brands to gather and utilise customer data effectively. The platform allows brands to collect data through various methods, including confirmation messages, customisable rich menus, website registration forms, and targeted surveys on LINE OA. 

It also incorporates engaging techniques such as gamification with interactive elements like “Spin the Wheel,” personalised offers and coupons, and fun and informative quizzes to drive user registration. Through these engagements and the data collected, brands can learn more about their customers and identify the high-value customer segment benefitting their campaign planning and execution. 

Once brands collect and organise their data, Antsomi CDP 365 on LINE OA will help them engage with their customers in various formats, including text, images, videos, rich menus, and LINE’s popular stickers. Antsomi CDP 365 on LINE OA will provide brands with versatile tools to engage their customers effectively and also deliver personalised marketing messages to the customers via the LINE messaging platform.

Antsomi notes that in a market like Thailand dominated by mighty e-commerce giants like Shopee and Lazada, brands and businesses often need help prioritising their owned e-commerce channels and establishing direct touchpoints with users. Antsomi CDP 365 on LINE OA addresses this challenge by leveraging LINE, which covers 80% of Thailand’s population, as a potent platform for helping brands collect and utilise data. 

Serm Teck Choon, co-founder and CEO of Antsomi, said, “We are thrilled to introduce Antsomi CDP 365 on LINE OA in Thailand. This significant launch reflects our commitment to empowering brands in Thailand to harness the full potential of data-driven marketing on top of the LINE messaging platform. With the support of our strategic partners, H+ Thailand, we are ready to help brands create meaningful customer interactions and drive business growth.”

Meanwhile, Masaru Koshiba, a member of H+ Thailand and the COO of i-dac (Bangkok), welcomed the launch, commenting, “We are delighted to have Antsomi CDP 365 on LINE OA join our team in supporting LINE marketing in the Thai market. This innovative platform will give our clients powerful tools to enhance their data-driven marketing strategies, enabling them to engage customers more effectively and achieve better marketing outcomes.”

He added, “Moreover, we anticipate that this will significantly contribute to the collaboration and strengthening of H+ CRM Suite beginning with Snowball developed by Winter Egency, our unique solution that enables flexible design of customer experience on LINE. Antsomi CDP 365’s strengths such as its expertise in data integration and 360 degree user profiles will enable us to approach an even wider range of client needs. We believe that Antsomi’s strengths can be multiplied to create an even stronger synergy together.”

With the current launch of Antsomi CDP 365 on LINE OA, i-dac (Bangkok) and AudienceIQ have helped its client, Dunlop Tire Thailand, implement the solution. This helps Dunlop Tire Thailand collect its customer data through its own customer registration system and deliver personalised marketing engagements with its customers through LINE message broadcasting. The successful implementation has signified that the solution suits the local needs of Thai businesses.