Zen Corporation, which operates several restaurant chains in Thailand, is resuming its expansion plan as the food and beverage industry continues to recover.
According to Chief Executive Officer, Boonyoung Tansakul, the operator postponed their plans to open 10 to 15 new Aka restaurants across hypermarkets and Robinson Lifestyle Malls this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Now, the company intends to boost its Aka store network from 28 to 100 by 2025.
Meanwhile, Zen’s café brand On the Table, which wasn’t severely affected by the pandemic, is set to rebrand to target younger consumers, with three further On the Table stores are slated to open later in the year. Meanwhile, a Zen flagship restaurant and Grab&Go concept store will open at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center and Muang Thong Thani in Q3 this year.
Tansakul also commented that as part of the company’s strategy, it will shift its focus to a hybrid restaurant model, offering a la carte and premium Japanese buffet under the same roof. Currently, 29 out of 44 Zen restaurants within the country have changed to the hybrid concept.
