Tag: chang

  • Uniqlo And Old Chang Kee Unite: A Unique Fashion Fusion Celebrating Singapore’s Heritage

    Uniqlo And Old Chang Kee Unite: A Unique Fashion Fusion Celebrating Singapore’s Heritage

    Uniqlo Singapore has recently announced an exciting collaboration with local food brand, Old Chang Kee. This new venture will see the launch of a unique UTme! collection, beautifully capturing the ethos and heritage of Old Chang Kee.

    A Blend of Fashion and Heritage

    This project, developed in association with local design house Wheniwasfour, uncovers a fresh and engaging perspective on Old Chang Kee’s storied history. The collection incorporates playful illustrations of the brand’s original Rex outlet as well as their signature snack – the Curry’O. The result is a delightful mix of fashion and nostalgia.

    The collection comprises seven distinct t-shirt designs, alongside six unique embroidery options.

    Shared Values and Synergy

    The collaboration between Uniqlo and Old Chang Kee is a particularly significant one, as reflected in the sentiments of Han Keen Juan, the chairman and founder of Old Chang Kee. He emphasized that the alliance was not merely a business venture, but a shared belief in common values.

    Juan expressed that Old Chang Kee, since its inception in 1956, has consistently focused on enhancing the everyday lives of Singaporeans. The brand’s commitment to innovative and top-quality products that cater to individuals of all backgrounds is closely aligned with Uniqlo’s own ethos.

    Accessibility and Exclusivity

    Four of the seven UTme! shirt designs will be available for purchase at all Uniqlo outlets across the country. Alternatively, for those seeking something more exclusive, three additional designs and six embroidery motifs will only be available at UTme! stores. These are located at Orchard Central, Jewel Changi Airport and VivoCity.

    In addition to the Old Chang Kee-themed shirts, the collaboration also offers customization options. Customers will have the opportunity to add personalized touches to other items, including denim pieces and tote bags, using the available embroidery designs.

    The Vision Behind the Collaboration

    Paulene Ong, the Managing Director of Uniqlo Singapore, stated that this collaboration aligns perfectly with their ‘Lifewear philosophy’. They drew inspiration from Old Chang Kee’s commitment to preserving their rich heritage through the training of future generations.

    Ong expressed hope that each design will resonate with both the local community and tourists alike, providing an engaging glimpse into Singapore’s vibrant food culture.

    The Uniqlo x Old Chang Kee collection will be launched in stores and online on October 17.

    Questions & Answers

    What does the Uniqlo x Old Chang Kee collection include?
    The collection includes seven unique t-shirt designs and six embroidery motifs, inspired by the heritage of Old Chang Kee.

    Where can one purchase items from the Uniqlo x Old Chang Kee collection?
    Four of the seven t-shirt designs will be available at all Uniqlo stores across Singapore. However, three additional designs and six embroidery options will be exclusive to UTme! stores located at Orchard Central, Jewel Changi Airport and VivoCity.

    What is the key motivation behind this collaboration?
    The collaboration stems from a shared set of values between Uniqlo and Old Chang Kee. It seeks to combine fashion with tradition and heritage, thereby resonating with a wide range of customers – local residents and tourists alike.

  • Thai Billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi Passes ThaiBev Stake to His Five Children in Strategic Family Move

    Thai Billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi Passes ThaiBev Stake to His Five Children in Strategic Family Move

    Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, Thailand’s third wealthiest individual, has transferred his 66% stake in Thai Beverage to his five children, but retains full decision-making authority over the drinks conglomerate. In a significant move announced via the Singapore Exchange on Monday, Charoen maintains “the authority to manage and make all decisions regarding the business and assets” of Thailand’s largest beverage company, Thai Beverage.

    This decision raises intriguing questions about the future of Charoen’s vast business empire, which is valued by Forbes at approximately $10.2 billion. As the succession plan unfolds, the spotlight will be on how these dynamics shape the company in the years to come.

    Thai Beverage, famous for its Chang beer and distillation operations in Scotland, serves as a crucial foundation of Charoen’s wealth, also comprising the renowned Saigon Beer through its Vietnamese subsidiary, Sabeco.

    Among his heirs is Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, the elder son, who currently wears the dual hats of ThaiBev CEO and a key player in the company’s intricate labyrinth of operations.

    Last month, the elder Sirivadhanabhakdi facilitated a handover of ownership in several major listed firms to his five children, signaling a concerted effort towards a structured succession plan.

    The 81-year-old entrepreneur took a step back from active leadership, having stepped down as chairman of Singapore-based Fraser and Neave in January, followed by his retirement as chairman of Frasers Property in February. This gradual exit marks the beginning of a new era for his business ventures.

    Charoen, who embarked on his journey in the Thai beer market in 1995, has since extended his portfolio into real estate and hospitality, proving that he is indeed a master of diversification — talk about a man with a thirst for success!

    Questions & Answers

    What does Charoen’s transfer of stake mean for Thai Beverage?
    Charoen’s transfer of his 66% stake to his children indicates a shift towards succession planning, although he retains full management authority, ensuring stability during this transition.

    Who is Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi and what is his role?
    Thapana is Charoen’s elder son and the current CEO of ThaiBev, positioned to take on greater responsibilities within the family business as succession progresses.

    How has Charoen impacted the beverage industry in Thailand?
    Charoen’s foray into the Thai beer market since 1995 laid the groundwork for his expansive beverage empire, making him a pivotal figure in Thailand’s beverage landscape and a key player in regional markets.

  • Chang Beer producer says ‘cheers’ to Manhattan

    Chang Beer producer says ‘cheers’ to Manhattan

    Asian beverage producer ThaiBev has now completed a multi-site implementation of Manhattan Associates’ warehouse management technology, as it looks to improve service levels and fulfil orders more profitably.

    Using the vendor’s Warehouse Management Solution (WMS), the Chang Beer producer is aiming to grow its business and expand its reach across its local market of Thailand and into new territories, while it also hopes to benefit from better inventory management and improved stock visibility.

    The project was delivered by a joint team from Manhattan and ThaiBev’s distributor arm Thai Beverage Logistics, as well as IT infrastructure and managed services partner TCC Technology (TCCT). The Manhattan solution, which has been embedded into ThaiBev’s existing SAP ERP system, is hosted at TCCT’s data centre.

    ThaiBev is working towards its “2020 Vision”, which is centred on the development of five core principals: growth, diversity, brand, reach and professionalism. Its latest investment in technology has been made with these business goals in mind.

    Kosit Suksingha, senior vice president at ThaiBev, commented: “In Thailand alone, Thai Beverage Logistics operates a supply network comprising three regional DCs and a series of provincial warehouses.

    “With Manhattan’s WMS technology and with TCCT’s complementary hosting infrastructure, we have improved product availability for our trade customers and are now able to fulfil customer orders within 24 hours of receiving the order.”

    He added that the technology is driving top-line sales growth and helping to improve the organisation’s operating margins.

    Manhattan has recently announced supply chain partnerships with baby and maternity products retailer Mothercare and fashion house Paul Smith, with both companies looking to improve their stock visibility and behind-the-scenes systems.

     

  • ThaiBev consolidates all beers into Chang Classic to shake up market

    ThaiBev consolidates all beers into Chang Classic to shake up market

    Thai Beverage (ThaiBev) has consolidated all its beers under the Chang Classic brand in line with its vision to become a “sustainable leader” in the beer and non-alcoholic beverages market in Asean by 2020.

    “We are able to make a perfect liquid for consumers. So, we would like to contribute a single-minded focus actually on one single brand,” Edmond Neo Kim Soon, chief executive officer for beer in Thailand at Chang International Co, said late Wednesday.

    As part of the group’s 2020 vision presented by Thapana Sirivadhan-abhakdi, president and CEO of ThaiBev, to more than 2,000 Chang dealers on Wednesday evening on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of Chang beer in Thailand, the company aims to increase Chang’s share of the local beer market from about 30 per cent to 45-50 per cent, making it the market leader.

    The company has already given up the distribution of several beer products – Chang Light, Chang Export and Chang Draught.

    The Chang Classic brand will be used for both the domestic market and export markets around the world.

    “We have also launched the new look Chang Classic bottle, with a more elegant and very nice contour and good hand-feel. The new Chang Classic will be easy to drink with only a 5.5-degree alcohol level, down from 6 degrees previously.

    “The new beer is in line with the company’s strategy to deliver products that meet customer needs,” Soon said. The bottle’s colour has also been changed from amber to green to attract more premium and younger drinkers of 20-35 years of age, down from 25-44 previously. The new Chang Classic bottles come in two sizes – 320cc and 620cc – at prices of about Bt34-Bt37 and Bt53-Bt55, depending on the retail outlet.

    Thailand’s beer market is looking to expand 3-4 per cent to about 18 million hectolitres this year after dropping sharply by about 5 per cent last year.

    “We want to grow faster than the overall beer market in Thailand,” he said, adding that the companyhas launched new marketing activities and have been able to increase market share substantially in the past six months. Our market share is as high as 30 per cent currently.

    Thailand is one of the very important markets for Chang. The company will focus on various issues, including those involving image and products, to strengthen its core business.

    “We have a significant presence in many markets in Asean, comprising Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore and Malaysia. We are launching our Chang beer in Cambodia and also looking at the rest of Asean,” he said.

    Vichate Tantiwanich, senior vice president for corporate affairs at ThaiBev, said the company was fully prepared to expand its presence in Asean. The company’s largest brewery in Kamphaeng Phet province is now running at only 50 per cent of capacity.