Thipsamai offsets diner dearth

Facing a sluggish economy and a dip in the number of people dining out at restaurants, Thipsamai Group — renowned for its restaurants’ legendary pad Thai — is adapting by expanding its line of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook products in an effort to offset the situation.

- SOMHATAI MOSIKA

Sikarachat Baisamut, chairman of Thipsamai Group and Siam Royal International, which operates Thipsamai Phadthai Pratoopee, said the current economic climate feels like the post-war period when people were feeling exhausted and were grappling with income-related challenges.

“Now is even worse than during the pandemic. Consumers want to spend but many simply can’t because their money seems to have less value due to rising prices,” he said.

In a trend that seems to have impacted the entire restaurant sector, Thipsamai is witnessing a decrease in diner numbers, with current figures showing a drop of around 20% in on-site diners compared to the corresponding period last year.

The company is currently operating Pratoopee restaurants in five locations, namely on Mahachai Road, at Iconsiam, King Power Rangnam, Siam Paragon and Phutthamonthon Sai 4.