CP Foods, Uoriki open Japanese seafood markets in Bankgok

CP-Uoriki, a collaboration between CP Food Global Solutions (CPFGS) and Uoriki, has opened two seafood markets in Bangkok, Thailand.

Tokyo, Japan-based Uoriki is a seafood retailer, wholesaler, and foodservice supplier. CPFGS is a subsidiary of Bangkok, Thailand-based Charoen Pokphand Foods focused on distribution of fresh and processed food products in Thailand. In May 2022, CPFGS signed a memorandum of understanding with Uoriki Co., Japan’s leading fish retailer, to import more premium fish products from Japan to Thailand.

The joint venture was formalized in May 2023 as part of CPFGS’ IPO. CPFGS has a 60 percent ownership in the JV, which has a registered capital of THB 200 million (USD 5.9 million, EUR 5.4 million), while Uoriki holds a 40 percent share.

The two new markets, located at Lotus’s Sukhumvit 50 and Makro’s Srinakarin branches in Bangkok, “are set to provide a top-tier Japanese seafood experience, featuring Omakase-level freshness and quality, making a genuine Japanese culinary experience accessible to the Thai populace,” according to CPFGS President Sujarit Mayalarp.

"Our aim is to provide consumers with premium quality food that truly reflects the Japanese culinary heritage,” Mayalarp said in a press release. “For genuine authenticity and to maintain the highest standards, we've ensured our chefs undergo extensive training, mentored by specialists from Japan.”

Uoriki President Masayuki Yamada said the JV hopes to open 100 stores in Thailand over the next five years. Each will provide seafood sourced directly from Japanese fish markets, including bluefin tuna, Aomori salmon, Kagoshima yellowtail fish, Hokkaido hotate, and Iwate uni.

"It’s a momentous occasion as we bring Uoriki’s rich heritage and the authentic Japanese seafood dining experience to Thailand through ‘CP-Uoriki,’” Yamada said. “This venture, born out of our collaborative efforts with CPFGS, is dedicated to providing an unparalleled, fresh, and healthy culinary experience to our customers."

Photo courtesy of CP-Uoriki