Minor Group is expanding its business by opening two new restaurant brands during the second and third quarters.
Kreetakorn Siriatha, chief financial officer at Minor Food Group Plc, a restaurant arm of Minor Group in Thailand, said it plans to open Riverside Grilled Fish restaurant on the sixth floor of CentralWorld in July. The 200-square-metre eatery serves customers Chongqing-style grilled whole fish with a variety of sauces including mala.
Minor Group acquired a 49% interest in Beijing Riverside & Courtyard, the Riverside Grilled Fish operator in China, in 2012.
There are more than 140 Riverside Grilled Fish restaurants in China and Singapore. Thailand is the third country for the chain, targeting youth and middle-class families.
Mr Kreetakorn said this style of eatery has no direct competitors in the Thai market.
He said the Minor food business recovered to levels posted in 2019 during the first four months this year, and all of its restaurants in tourist destinations have resumed operations.
Spending per person exceeds the pre-pandemic level of 2019, while the delivery channel is also available, said Mr Kreetakorn.
"We will maintain our aggressive expansion as planned, but investment requires more caution to ensure a return as well as growth. With the recovery of the food business, it's time to add brands by opening Riverside Grilled Fish in Thailand because there is still opportunity for Asian food to grow here. The move will help our group to recruit new customers as the majority of food under our portfolio are Western options," he said.
Meanwhile, Minor International Plc plans to open a pop-up store for Wolseley, a café from the UK, at Anantara Hotel on Ratchadamri Road between April and June this year. It has a private dining room with 20 seats and a dining area with 50 seats.
Café Wolseley is managed by The Wolseley Hospitality Group, which is owned by Minor International Trading Co Ltd under Minor Group.
Fergal Lee, general manager of The Wolseley, said there are seven branches in London and two more outlets slated to open this year.
"Café Wolseley Bangkok is our first international pop-up outside the UK," said Mr Lee.
"Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel is a destination with an international set of customers, so it seemed a great opportunity to test the waters in Thailand to see if Café Wolseley will resonate with the audience here."
Wolseley Hospitality Group opened the first Wolseley restaurant in the UK in November 2003.
