Rebirth in Hong Kong: From Dessert Shop to Industrial Empire

Chapter 34 Trip to Thailand (Please add to your favorites, vote for this book, and recommend it!)

Having arranged everything, while A-Chang was collecting information about the disaster in the Thai coconut plantations, Chen Bingwen quickly applied for a business visa to Thailand and exchanged the necessary foreign currency.

They also compiled a large amount of information about Chan Kee Dessert, including newspaper reports, photos of the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair, and the bustling sales scenes at the five standard stores. They even brought several jars of carefully packaged mango pomelo sago and coconut milk sago samples.

Originally, Chen Bingwen planned to meet with Ling Peiyi. If she was as outstanding as Fang Wenshan said, he was prepared to persuade her to come to Chen Ji Foods as the operations director.

Ling Pei-yi's management skills are exactly what's needed right now, but with the coconut milk crisis looming, the meeting with Ling Pei-yi has to be postponed for the time being.

However, this trip to Thailand provided a good opportunity for the lawyer to conduct a background check on Ling Pei-yi.

Late at night, the lights were still on in the Kwun Tong factory office.

In front of Chen Bingwen lay a preliminary report, hastily written and collected by Achang, as well as a detailed map of Thailand.

"Brother Wen, this is what we compiled overnight."

Ah Chang's voice was hoarse and his eyes were dark-rimmed. He had gone to great lengths these past two days to gather information on the damage to the coconut plantations in Thailand, contacting many people before finally obtaining relatively complete data.

"The southern Thai provinces of Trang and Surat Thani have indeed been severely affected by the disaster. Typhoon Nara has caused large areas of coconut groves to collapse, and it is estimated that the output of these two major producing areas will be reduced by more than 40%."

However, Phang Nga and Chumphon provinces suffered less damage, especially Mae Rim district in Chiang Mai province, which is close to the Myanmar border and was almost unaffected! That bastard Somchai exaggerated!

Chen Bingwen emphasized the location of Chiang Mai Province: "Golden Elephant is a major supplier in the south. It was severely affected by the disaster, so naturally it wanted to transfer goods from other unaffected areas to make up for its losses, and even wanted to take the opportunity to make a fortune."

What about the less affected production areas? Are there any reputable local suppliers?

“There are two!” Achang quickly pulled out another document. “One is Siam Golden Coconut in Phang Nga Province. It’s a medium-sized company that mainly exports fresh fruit and has its own small coconut milk processing line, but its quality control level is unknown.”

Another one is Sompha Coconut Plantation in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai. It is an old plantation with a large area and is said to have excellent quality. However, in the past, it mainly supplied local high-end hotels and exported to Japan, and rarely had contact with the Hong Kong Island market. Its scale may not be as large as Golden Elephant.

Their offer was indeed about 8% lower than Golden Elephant's post-increase price, and according to the middleman, Mr. Songpa was very disgusted by Golden Elephant's opportunistic behavior.

"Master Songpa?" Chen Bingwen caught the title.

"Yes, Sompa Chainawat is a highly respected landowner in Mae Rim, and is said to place great importance on quality and reputation."

“Good!” Chen Bingwen slammed his hand on the table. “These two are it: Siam Golden Coconut in Phang Nga and Sompha Coconut Garden in Chiang Mai.”

Ah Chang, contact our reliable intermediary in Bangkok immediately and schedule a visit to both businesses. Emphasize the scale of Chen Kee, our needs, and our commitment to quality. Tell them I will personally visit them!

"Yes, boss!" Achang immediately turned around and went to do it.

Chen Bingwen's gaze fell on the information about Hainan coconut milk again, and he frowned slightly.

With numerous policy restrictions, cumbersome export procedures, and long and unstable transportation cycles, it can serve as a supplement in the short term, but cannot become the mainstay.

He decisively placed it as the last option.

Three days later, a Boeing 747 landed at Bangkok's Don Mueang International Airport.

As soon as he got off the plane, the hot, humid, and salty air hit him like a hot, soaked towel being slapped heavily on his face.

The middleman that Achang had contacted, Thanapon, was already waiting for the two at the exit.

Thanapon is a lean, middle-aged man who speaks Cantonese and Mandarin. He is well-known in Bangkok's Chinese business circles for his good connections and reliability.

"Mr. Chen, you must be tired from your journey!" Thanapon warmly shook hands with Chen Bingwen. "I understand the situation. Let's go to the hotel and settle in first."
"We've already contacted Mr. Sompa and Manager Basong of Siam Golden Coconut. Mr. Sompa is in Chiang Mai, and Manager Basong is in Phang Nga, so we'll have to split up."

"Time is of the essence, let's go to Phang Nga to see the Siam Golden Coconut first!" Chen Bingwen said without hesitation. "Chiang Mai is far away, let's leave it for last."

“Okay! The car is outside.” Thanapong was somewhat surprised by Chen Bingwen’s decisiveness, but his eyes showed more appreciation.

Phang Nga Province is more than 600 kilometers from Bangkok, and the long and bumpy journey is long.

Chen Bingwen had no interest in appreciating the tropical scenery outside the window; his mind was preoccupied with how to obtain high-quality, inexpensive coconut milk.

Thanapon then took the opportunity to introduce the two suppliers in more detail.

Siam Golden Coconut's factory is located in a somewhat remote industrial area in Phang Nga province.

Manager Basong is a typical Thai businessman, always smiling, but his eyes reveal shrewd calculation.

The factory tour made Chen Bingwen feel uneasy.

The production line was relatively old, and the hygiene conditions were barely up to standard. There was a faint coconut aroma in the air, but a subtle sour smell that wasn't fresh.

Workers operate arbitrarily, quality control is virtually nonexistent, and processes are essentially a formality.

"Mr. Chen, our coconut milk is absolutely top-notch!" Basong patted his chest confidently. "As for the price, it's negotiable!"

It's definitely cheaper than Golden Elephant! How much do you need? We have plenty of production capacity!

He enthusiastically promoted his product, but when Chen Bingwen asked to see detailed records of the raw material sources, test reports, and other proof, Basong's smile became somewhat stiff, and he changed the subject.

Imported coconut milk cannot pass through Hong Kong Island Customs without these documents.

Seeing this, Chen Bingwen felt a chill in his heart.

However, on second thought, although the coconut milk in Basong did not have the relevant certification, if the price was cheap, he could spend money to find an agency in Bangkok to get the certification required by customs.

As long as the total cost isn't too high, it's acceptable.

However, when it came to negotiating the price, Basong's price was indeed 8% lower than Golden Elephant's, but they demanded a one-year exclusive supply contract with a down payment of up to 60%.

How could Chen Bingwen possibly agree to an exclusive supply agreement?

Basong's terms seem to offer an 8% discount, but the one-year exclusive contract ties them down, and the 60% upfront payment transfers the financial risk to Chen Kee.

Not to mention the worrying quality control and the evasive attitude, how can such a supplier uphold the quality reputation of Chenji products?

“Manager Basong,” Chen Bingwen put down the sample in his hand.

The coconut milk in that can of Siam Golden Coconut was slightly cloudy in color and the aroma was not pure enough.

His tone was calm but carried an unquestionable air: "Our requirements for our partners go beyond just price."

Consistency in quality is the foundation for long-term cooperation.

To be frank, your factory's quality control process does not meet Chen Ji's requirements.

Exclusive contracts and 60% upfront payments are out of the question.

If you can provide a concrete improvement plan and demonstrate your sincerity, we can consider placing a small trial order to establish initial trust.

Basong's smile vanished completely, replaced by an offended arrogance and impatience.

He clearly underestimated the vision and audacity of the young Hong Kong businessman before him.

“Mr. Chen,” Basong’s voice turned cold, carrying a disdainful tone that suggested he didn’t care whether he bought it or not, “My coconut milk is of extremely high quality and is in high demand wherever it’s sold! My price is already very generous.”

If you have so many requirements, then please do as you please.

"But I must warn you, you won't find such good goods anywhere else if you miss out on this." He waved his hand, as if to dismiss the customer.

Without the slightest hesitation, Chen Bingwen stood up decisively: "In that case, I apologize for disturbing you. I wish you a prosperous business."

After saying that, he gestured to Achang and Thanapon, then turned and left.

A failed negotiation, but at least it made it clear that the Siam Golden Coconut was far from a good choice.

“Mr. Chen, don’t be discouraged,” Thanapon comforted him in the car. “Phang Nga is a mixed bag. But Mr. Sompha’s side is the real deal; his reputation is well-known.”

"Go straight to Chiang Mai!" Chen Bingwen nodded, his gaze fixed on the tropical rainforest rushing past the car window.

The journey from Phang Nga to Mae Rim District in Chiang Mai was another long and bumpy one.

When the car finally entered the Songpa Coconut Plantation, Chen Bingwen's exhausted spirits were lifted.

The scene before me was completely different from the industrial areas of Phang Nga.

On the rolling hills, there are endless rows of neatly arranged coconut groves.

The tall coconut trees are lush and green, their huge feathery leaves stretching out in the sunlight, and heavy coconuts clustered under the canopy, exuding vitality.

The air was fresh and moist, filled with the fragrance of grass, soil, and faint coconut blossoms, sweeping away the heat and boredom of the journey.

However, when the car bumped its way into the area surrounded by tall coconut trees and stopped in front of the bungalow office with its Southeast Asian flair, Chen Bingwen's heart sank.

The sign hanging at the office entrance hasn't changed; it's still that simple, handwritten wooden sign that reads "Songpa Coconut Garden."

But a brand-new refrigerated truck bearing the "Taifeng Foods" logo was parked at the door, and workers were busy loading sealed silver metal drums onto the truck.

Chen Bingwen was absolutely certain that those silver metal buckets were the ones used to hold coconut milk.

At the office entrance, a middle-aged Thai man in a Thai Feng uniform was talking to a lean elderly man in a linen shirt.

Chen Bingwen recognized the old man at a glance as Old Songpa!
In his previous life, he had only seen a picture of old Songpa on the wall of the manor hall, but now he was standing right in front of him.

Chen Bingwen took a deep breath and led Achang forward.

At this point, Taifeng's manager seemed to have ended the conversation, nodded to Chosongpa, and turned to get into the truck.

“Sawadika no.”

Chen Bingwen stepped forward a few steps, a polite smile on his face, and looked directly at Songpa, greeting him in English mixed with limited Thai, while handing over his business card: "Mr. Songpa?"
My name is Chan Ping-man, I come from Hong Kong Island, and I run a food business.

Songpa turned around, took the business card, and shook hands with Chen Bingwen. "Mr. Chen, welcome to Songpa Coconut Plantation."

Sompa's English has an accent, but it is very clear and fluent.

Chen Bingwen got straight to the point: "I have long heard that Sompha Coconut Plantation produces top-quality coconut milk from Thailand."

I made this special trip to visit you, hoping to establish a long-term cooperative relationship with Mr. Songpa and purchase high-quality coconut milk raw materials from your esteemed estate.

"Ah," Songpa's polite expression froze instantly.

He sighed heavily, his wrinkled hand pointing helplessly in the direction the Taifeng truck had gone: "Mr. Chen, you're too late."

Chen Bingwen frowned slightly: "What does Mr. Songpa mean?"

“Sigh,” Songpa shook his head and shrugged helplessly, “Just yesterday, we renewed a new three-year exclusive distribution contract with Taifeng Foods.”

Three years! Within the next three years, every single drop of the cold-pressed coconut milk produced at Songpa Coconut Plantation will belong to Taifeng.

The truck was just loaded with their orders for this month.

The contract was in black and white, very strictly defined, and contained substantial exclusivity clauses.

We can no longer sell to any third party.

He emphasized "three years" and "all production capacity," his tone very firm.

"Taifeng?" Chen Bingwen asked in surprise, "Don't they mainly produce canned pineapple and frozen fruit? Why do they have such a big demand for coconut milk?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Sompa's eyes; he clearly hadn't expected this young Hong Kong businessman to know so much about Thai local businesses.

"Boss Chen is really well-informed."

He smiled wryly, "That was certainly true before."

However, this year they secured a long-term order from a very large high-end supermarket chain in Europe and urgently need a stable supply of coconut milk.

We had a very pleasant working relationship before, so this time we renewed the contract for another three years. The terms are indeed demanding, especially the exclusivity, but Taifeng's deposit and price are very attractive.

He paused, then added, "Moreover, their order volume has completely filled our production capacity, leaving no room for us to add a shift of workers to expand production."

Mr. Chen, I'm so sorry, Mr. Thanapon had already introduced you and your Chen's Dessert to me.

However, Taifeng Foods was a previous partner, and this time it was just a renewal of the original contract.

Therefore, a contract is a contract, and reputation is reputation. In Thailand, especially in the agricultural sector, reputation is more valuable than gold.

The consequences of breaching the contract are something my old bones can't afford.

Chen Bingwen understood what Songpa had said.

To put it bluntly, Taifeng is a long-term customer, so we will definitely prioritize the needs of our long-term customers.

Chen Ji is a new customer, and we've never worked together before, so we'll definitely choose Tai Feng over Chen Ji.

Before Chen Bingwen could even utter a phrase like "the price is negotiable," Songpa shut him down with "exclusivity."

“I understand, thank you Mr. Sompa for your honesty.”

Since Songpa couldn't find a source of goods, Chen Bingwen didn't plan to stay any longer.

"Boss, if all else fails, shall we try Golden Elephant?"

Sitting back in the stuffy, steamy car, A-Chang's voice was hoarse, and beads of sweat rolled down his temples, soaking his shirt collar.

The lack of supply from Songpa Coconut Plantation has essentially cut off their most reliable hope.

"Back to Bangkok!" Chen Bingwen ordered directly. "Are we going to eat hairy pork without Butcher Zhang?"

Ah Chang, mobilize all your connections immediately!
"Make a list for me of all the coconut-producing regions around Bangkok—no, throughout all of Thailand—of all the large-scale, reputable coconut milk producers, processors, and traders, even those that are just somewhat well-known cooperatives! Visit them one by one!"

The setbacks at Siam Golden Coconut and Sompha Coconut Plantation did not dampen Chen Bingwen's fighting spirit; on the contrary, they were like oil poured on dry tinder, making the flame of his indomitable spirit burn even brighter.

His inherent ruthlessness was completely ignited in the predicament he faced in a foreign land.

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(End of this chapter)