Coca Holding International Co, the operator of Coca sukiyaki restaurants, expects sales growth of more than 50% to 1.3 billion baht this year, the highest in its 55-year history.
Pitaya: Aqua tea will be second pillar
Chief executive Pitaya Phanphensophon said his company will open 17 new restaurants under various brands this year, about double last year's openings.
Five of these will be in Thailand.
The total investment will be 200 million baht, with 420-450 jobs created.
"2012 will be a golden year for Coca in terms of our investment and sales growth. We're moving more aggressively than before, when we set a conservative annual growth target of only 15-20%," said Mr Pitaya.
Nine outlets opened in the first half of this year _ seven Coca restaurants, the Mango Tree Bistro in Megabangna and the Coca Grill at Tesco Lotus in Chon Buri's Ban Bung district.
The Coca Grill is the fourth restaurant brand under the Coca Group.
Its gourmet grilled-Asian cuisine buffet is aimed at teenagers and new-generation families.
Coca Grills are decorated in a Japanese and Korean food-stall motif. Mr Pitaya said a wide variety of Japanese and Korean dishes are available including desserts, all for 299 baht per person.
Each 120-seat Coca Grill costs 10 million baht to open.
Meanwhile, the Megabangna Coca restaurant carries the new "living room" concept that helped first-half group sales to grow by 48% year-on-year to 655 million baht.
Eight more restaurants are planned for the second half, both locally and internationally.
The foreign outlets will be in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Hong Kong and the UAE.
The expansion will bring the number of restaurants under the Coca Group to 70 by year-end including 18 in Thailand.
As well, the company will soon introduce its Aqua Coca tea brand in 7-Eleven convenience stores, said Mr Pitaya.
The company is spending 80 million baht to develop the beverage brand, which is under a joint venture between Coca Holding International and Ideal Food and Beverage Co.
Three tea flavours are planned _ green, oolong and jasmine/chrysanthemum. Aqua Coca is expected to bring in 18 million baht in revenue during its first year.