Chinese dairy company Yili buys Thai ice cream maker Chomthana

Chinese dairy company Yili has acquired Thailand-based frozen foods and ice cream manufacturer Chomthana to expand in Southeast Asia.

Chomthana has more than 37 years of experience and exports its products to 13 foreign markets. The firm sells a range of ice cream products, ice lollies and wafer cones.

The deal forms part of Yili’s international expansion efforts. This year, the company has upgraded its European research and development facility in the Netherlands and launched the Joyday ice cream brand in Indonesia.

Chomthana president Soh Chee Yong said: “Through many contacts and talks, we believe that Yili is a respectable company. Since its creation, Yili has been adhering to the quality belief and has been renowned worldwide for its continuous internationalisation and innovation. Under the dream of ‘let the world share health’, Yili products have won the trust of global consumers.”

Zhang Jianqiu, CEO of Yili Group, said: “In the process of promoting internationalisation, Yili always adheres to the concept of ‘openness, cooperation and win-win’, and devotes to the dream of ‘making the world healthy’.”

Earlier this year, Brand Finance announced that Yili rose eight places to become the sixth most valuable brand, and third most valuable food brand.

According to the annual ranking, Yili stands out as the best performer among the ten most valuable food brands in the world, rising to third place from eighth in 2017 following 43% growth to $6.2 billion brand value.

The company has aimed to cater to Chinese consumer preferences for dairy products which are more premium, with health benefits and innovative flavours. In June, the firm launched a line of ambient drinking yogurt with large fruit and cereal pieces.