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Salmon leaps onto list of Lao exports
A local company will begin exporting smoked salmon to neighbouring countries within the next three months.
President and CEO of Vientiane Cold Storage and Deluxe Food Group, Mr Sam Chanpradith, said the company has built a cold storage and food processing facility in Laos to prepare smoked salmon for export.
“Production will begin in three months with confirmed exports to Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong. We are in talks with Vietnam and Japan. There is unlimited growth potential for quality seafood in Asia and huge demand for quality smoked salmon,” he added.
Mr Chanpradith is Lao-Canadian and has over 20 years experience in the seafood industry. Chanpradith owns one of the largest seafood and smoked salmon processing plants in North America and has been a successful seafood wholesaler and exporter with customers all over the world.
“I enjoy my life in Canada, but deep down in my heart I missed Laos, my home town, and the place I grew up. I missed my friends, my family and my life in Laos, and that's why I decided to come back to Laos to set up my business,” Mr Chanpradith said.
The smoked salmon will be sold under the brand Deluxe Food and will feature the polar bear logo used by his brand in Canada.
Mr Chanpradith confirmed that all of his products are prepared to internationally recognised standards, which are checked periodically by international regulatory agencies. The value-added salmon products will be labeled ‘made in Laos', but the salmon are imported from Canada where they are bred naturally.
The company currently is training 40 local workers in salmon processing and packaging. Mr Chanpradith expects 500 kilos of salmon will be prepared per day.
“It will take about 20 days to fill one container for export. We then plan to extend the capacity based on demand.”
“Bringing salmon from Canada to Laos is expensive but I anticipate that costs will go down when Laos joins the WTO. I know this is not going to be an easy task but I am committed to growing my business and I want to help to grow the Lao economy. I want to bring what I learnt in North America and share the good food and my success with the people of Laos.”
Mr Chanpradith also owns the Deluxe Food Supermarket and Tojo Japanese restaurant in Donnokkhoum village in Vientiane's Sisattanak district.
“Tojo Japanese Restaurant serves the freshest seafood food from all the world. Our advantages are that we have our own sources of seafood and cold storage warehouse to ensure the consistent quality of our products,” said Mr Chanpradith.
Deluxe Food Supermarket is an international market where consumers can find the best food from around the world. Mr Chanpradith said his knowledgeable staff are all trained to help customers with some simple preparation methods of all the food products they have.
“My goal is to make Laos a better place to live. Deluxe Food Group provides employment, training and development opportunities for local people. More importantly, we aim to be a responsible company and aid the growth and development of Laos.”
vientiane times
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