Coconuts are a fruit that Thais know from an early age. Many Thais consume a coconut a day, be it in the form of coconut water, young coconuts, roasted coconut, coconut-rice pancakes (khanom khrok) or grilled coconut cakes (khanom paeng jee).
So it's fitting that Thailand is home to K Fresh Co, one of the world's biggest producers and exporters of aromatic coconuts and owner of the All Coco brand.
Founded in 2004 in Samut Sakhon province, the company is known for its method of planting aromatic coconut trees, the skill of its participating farmers and its use of technology and logistics in distribution.
K Fresh exports nearly 20 million aromatic coconuts a year to more than 30 countries including the US, Canada, Russia, Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan and South Korea.
"We're now the third generation of a family-owned enterprise that has been engaged in making coconut sugar and coconut-related products for more than 12 years," managing director Kemtas Manusrungsri says. "We still keep looking to expand our business and export destinations worldwide, particularly for aromatic coconuts."
He says the aromatic coconut business remains promising thanks to the health benefits associated with coconut water. Dubbed "nature's Gatorade", coconut water is an isotonic drink that provides many of the same benefits as formulated sports drinks including the electrolytes calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium — but in natural form.
Aromatic coconuts from Thailand are internationally popular thanks to their sweet fragrance and flavour, plus the health benefits. The aromatic quality is a feature of coconuts grown in a few select provinces in central Thailand including the farming area operated under an exclusive deal between farmers and K Fresh Co.
The company has arrangements with 40 aromatic coconut growers in Samut Sakhon's Ban Phaeo district, spanning 500 rai. K Fresh plans to extend its contracts this year to cover 2,000 rai.
All participating farmers are long-term residents familiar with growing aromatic coconuts. Each step from selecting qualified seedlings to choosing the appropriate time for planting to inspecting the fruit is compliant with good agricultural practices.
Exports now account for up to 98% of the company's production.
Mr Kemtas says export sales increased by 10% per year on average, with this year's figure expected to reach 500 million baht.
Aromatic coconuts are currently the company's main revenue contributor, but the company is expanding further into processed products such as coconut ice cream and coconut water pudding.
K Fresh is also committed to spending more on research and development to add value to the coconut products.
To clear the way for business expansion, the company recently spent 200 million baht to set up processing facilities. Construction is expected to finish within the next two months.
K Fresh also intends to expand the All Coco brand abroad after an investor expressed interest in owning the South Korean franchise.