Lin-Chan brand has developed a special mango juice, a mix from Thailand and Cambodia, specifically aimed at the healthy consumer.

As more consumers around the globe are turning towards healthy food, Thai producers, such as Ban Mum Sa-ngop community enterprise, are supplying 100% natural products for this market.

According to www.imarcgroup.com, the consumption of carbonated drinks is reducing globally, as consumers are becoming increasingly health-conscious and shifting towards natural fruit juices. The global fruit juice market is projected to reach 50.6 billion litres in 2024, from 45.4 billion litres in 2018.

Lin-Chan mango juice is made from of Kaew Kamin mangoes from Pailin province in Cambodia and Nam Dok Mai mangoes in Thailand’s Chanthaburi province.

“As my company has imported and processed mangoes from Cambodia for years, we decided to produce a mango juice as it has become more popular among consumers, and we saw the potential growth in the global market,” says Samart Khetsawang, the founder of SK Frozen & Freeze Dry, a key member of Ban Mum Sa-ngop community enterprise.

Participating in a joint project by the Ministry of Commerce and the Centre for International Trade Studies of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, to promote and develop products using raw materials from Thai border provinces and neighbouring countries, SK developed three mango juice recipes. One was from Kaew Kamin mangoes, a second from Nam Dok Mai mangoes and a third was a 50-50 mixture of the two. After several trials, Khetsawang discovered that the mix was tastier, more cost-effective and had a good mango scent. Since last year, the company has produced mango juice under the Lin-Chan brand.

“Our mango juice is 100% natural with a two-year shelf life. We have a monthly production capacity of 30,000 to 50,000 bottles, but we have not begun to market the product for export.” Khetsawang says. “After receiving positive feedback at a trade fair in Qatar, we are negotiating with our trade partner to export our mango juice to Qatar and the US in the foreseeable future.”

In addition to mango juice, SK produces freeze dried durian and mangoesteen under the Changploy brand, as well as its partners’ brand.

“We process durian and mangoesteen from our orchard and other standard orchards in Trat, Chanthaburi, Chumphon and Yala provinces in Thailand. Our factory is certified by standards, including Good Agricultural Practice (GAP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), Thailand’s FDA and Halal,” he adds.

“About 95% of products are sold domestically while 5% are exported to China and Australia,” Khetsawang says, adding that he expects to expand further into China, as well as to India, the Middle East and Russia in the coming years. To fulfill the plan, he will promote his products at international trade fairs, such as THAIFEX.

“THAIFEX is a great opportunity for Thai producers to meet with potential buyers worldwide. I will definitely participate in the fair again,” he says.

For more information, e-mail: [email protected]
Words by Somhatai Mosika