Line Man Wongnai assists flooded firms

The food delivery platform Line Man Wongnai is working with local communities to help food merchants in Hat Yai resume their activities after the recent devastating flood.

- SUCHIT LEESA-NGUANSUK

A Line Man Wongnai driver picks up a food delivery package from a cloud kitchen in Hat Yai.

The Bank of Thailand says the gross provincial product of Songkhla in 2023 was 251 billion baht, of which 70% was contributed by Hat Yai.

Hat Yai is the economic hub of southern Thailand and its restaurants account for 15% of the southern region on the Line Man Wongnai platform, said chief executive Yod Chinsupakul.

Before the floods, from Oct 21 to Nov 20, roughly 2,800 restaurants were in operation in the area.

From Nov 27 to Jan 6, 75% managed to reopen, while nearly 1,000 small restaurants remained unable to resume business.

Mr Yod said the company is supporting affected merchants, food delivery drivers and consumers. Line Man Wongnai wants to help 300-500 merchants reopen by Chinese New Year, he said.

To achieve this target, the company has opened a cloud kitchen, which serves as an operating space for damaged restaurants to move in and continue their business.

The kitchen was launched at Buri Sriphu Hotel in Hat Yai, costing 1 million baht. The kitchen provides equipment to support 15-20 popular food merchants who have not reopened their shops.