Ministry rushes to expand cheap food chain
THE Commerce Ministry is rushing to expand the Noonid cheap food chain which sells a plateful of food at not more than 35 baht by linking up with PTT Plc to open these outlets at its petrol pumps nationwide, Thai News Agency said today (Feb. 21).
Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said after the Internal Trade Department signed a memorandum of cooperation with PTT Plc that the aim is to ensure these meals costing no more than 35 baht a plate reach all segments of the population.
Those joining the Noonid chain, which stress “quality, clean, inexpensive and tasty” food, will get the knowhow on cooking tasty food and decorating their restaurants as well as arranging the menu.
They will also be helped in acquiring low-cost but good quality produce as the ministry has liaised with Makro and other wholesale stores in their area. Moreover they will get equipment and public relations support through the Noonid brand.
To encourage operators to perform better there will be a competition with the winners getting a Noonid star.
The ministry’s target is to expand Noonid food outlets to 15,000 this year from the current total of 11,809. Noonid food trucks will also be increased to 35 from 17 at present.
Auttapol Rerkpiboon, PTT Plc’s vice president, said the initial aim is to introduce at least 600 Noonid outlets to travelers and the overall community and thus giving them an option of eating inexpensive food but the quality would also have to be good as at least 10-20% of the outlets at PTT’s pumps would have to be those awarded a Noonid star.
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Top: Tasty yet cheap and clean Thai dishes available at Noonid outlets. Photo: Commerce Ministry’s Department of Internal Trade
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