arkets in the Asia Pacific region continue to represent high-growth opportunities for PepsiCo, and the company continues to invest aggressively to increase its presence in these markets. One recent example is PepsiCo’s newly constructed potato chip plant in Ayudhaya Province, Thailand, which began production on February 4, 2014. It is PepsiCo’s second food plant in Thailand.The 20-acre facility, which has the capacity to produce more than 20,000 tons of potato chips annually, “not only strengthens [PepsiCo’s] business performance and supports business growth for PepsiCo Thailand Foods, it also allows us to serve the needs of our customers and consumers in a more timely and effective manner,” says Mookda Pairatchavet, general manager of PepsiCo Thailand Foods.
Both classic flat-cut and crinkle-cut potato chips in up to 20 traditional and regional flavors — including Classic Salt, BBQ, Sour Cream, Sweet Basil, Chili Cheese and Thailand’s popular Lay’s flavor, Nori Seaweed — will be made at the plant.
The facility features advanced technologies and capabilities that can deliver production, warehouse and logistics management, and safety efficiencies. For example, the plant’s equipment includes bag-making technology that lowers operating costs and runs 30 percent faster than the previously utilized technology. In addition, machine-mounted seasoning equipment extends plant production time and reduces the amount of downtime that’s necessary when changing flavor seasonings.
The two Thailand plants are supplied by some 6,000 Thai farmers who grow approximately 70 percent of the potatoes processed at the Thailand plants.
