Tesco Lotus, a major retail discount hypermarket in Thailand, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Thailand's Ministry of Commerce to buy 180,000 tonnes of Thai fruits and vegetables valued at Bt2.5bn in 2009, reports enews.mcot.net
Company chairman Sunthorn Arunanondchai said the planned purchase by his company represents a 30 per cent increase in volume from last year, according to the publication.
Under the MoU, Tesco Lotus will also promote sales of Thai branded goods in and outside the country, he said.
The MoU was signed after a pledge given by Sir Terry Leahy, chief executive officer of Tesco plc, to Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva during Mr Abhisit's visit to London earlier this month, reports enews.mcot.net.
Sir Terry had promised that his company would increase the purchases of Thai fruit and vegetables to double or about Bt3bn from the Bt1.5bn level at present, according to the publication.
