Meyer commits B340m to its Thailand facilities

       Meyer general manager Joseph K.C.Lo says the company has confidence in Thailand and is buying machinery and upgrading facilities at its factory in Laem Chabang, Si Racha, Chon Buri.
       PITSINEE JITPLEECHEEP
       The US cookware producer Meyer Manufacturing Co has confidence to invest 340 million baht in Thailand despite is poor economy and uncertain politics.
       General manager Joseph K.C. Lo said the budget is for new machinery and upgrading facilities at its factory in Laem Chabang, Si Racha, Chon Buri.
       "We set up our production base here after the Tienanmen Square riots in 1989 and are committed to continuing our investment here because Thailand has good infrastructure and is strategically located as a centre to export our products worldwide," he said yesterday in Bangkok.
       The company exports 98% of its nonstick and stainless steel cookware to the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia and some countries in the Middle East.
       Meyer Manufacturing Co is one of the world's top three kitchenware suppliers. Sales in Thailand are only a few hundred million baht per year but demand was up 10% annually until this year's slowdown. The company expects local sales this year to match last year.
       Meyer's brands include Meyer cookware for the midmarket, Prestige for the medium- to high-end and Circulon and Anolon for the high-end.
       Mr Lo said Meyer's success stemmed from product development, quality control and after-sales service."Having goodquality products and competitive prices help us to attract consumers, while good after-sales service will create consumer confidence," he said.
       Domestic sales of Myer dropped slightly in the first seven months of this year but the company expects conditions to improve by year-end. New products will be launched next year and the company will spend 10 million baht on marketing.
       "As consumers are concerned about a good life, we will continue to innovate and make cooking a fun and enjoyable part of life," he said."Apart from fresh ingredients, cookware plays a very important part in cooking."
       He said cookware sales in Asia are only 2-3% of revenue worldwide but the company expects the proportion to rise to 5-7% over the next three years.
       "Despite the economic crisis in its homeland, Meyer's sales in the US remain outstanding. This is because fewer people are going out to dine in restaurants and they are buying more cookware to cook at home," he said.