PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR), Thailand's largest oil trader by volume, plans to establish more business ties with retailers looking for new sales channels at PTT petrol stations following mall closures during the recent lockdown.
The government's order to shut down operations at department stores in provinces severely affected by Covid-19 infections from mid-July until the end of August caused shop owners to adjust their business plans.
Phichin Aphiwantanaporn, OR's senior executive vice-president for finance, said the company had been approached by many firms, particularly from the food and beverage segment.
He declined to name them, saying only OR believes it would "conclude negotiations as soon as possible", despite the ongoing travel restrictions.
OR, which is well known for its Cafe Amazon brand, finalised deals over the last five years with many food and beverage operators including Hua Seng Hong Dim Sum, Texas Chicken, Ohkajhu organic restaurant and Pacamara coffee.
Mr Phichin said the gross profit margin of the company's non-oil business stands at 25% of sales value, compared with 5% from oil trade.
Oil sales during the lockdown period in July and August fell by 10%, while sales of non-oil products and services dropped by less than 10%.
"We hope the government's mass vaccination programme will help slow new infection rates in September so people can live a more normal life," he said.
By the end of this month, OR's bakery powder production facility is scheduled to start commercial operations, following its opening of a goods distribution centre in Ayutthaya in May.
The new facility will supply raw materials to Cafe Amazon shops and help OR better manage costs for its bakery business, said Mr Phichin.
The firm still plans to buy bakery products from small enterprises, which will make up 70% of all its bakery products.
OR recently gave Cafe Amazon a fresh look, with additional menus from Ohkajhu, which is famous for organic salad with homemade dressings.