Interview With President Rice Products * Product Samples From President Rice Products * MAMA Instant Flat Noodles Tom Yum Flavour * MAMA Instant Rice Noodles Phnom Penh Style * MAMA Instant Rice Noodles Stew Beef Flavour * MAMA Cup Rice Noodles Tom Saab Flavour * MAMA Instant Flat Noodles Clear Soup * MAMA Instant Rice Vermicelli Yentafo Tom Yam Mohfai * MAMA Instant Rice Noodles Vegetable Flavour * MAMA Pho Bo Rice Noodles With Artificial Beef Flavour * MAMA Instant Tom Yam Rice Noodles * MAMA Instant Rice Vermicelli Bihun Goreng Perisa Asli * MAMA Oriental Kitchen Instant Rice Vermicelli In Gravy * MAMA Pho Ga Rice Noodles With Artificial Chicken Flavour * MAMA Instant Rice Noodles Chicken Flavour * MAMA Instant Rice Vermicelli Clear Soup * MAMA Instant Rice Noodles Moo Nam Tok Flavour * President Rice Coriander Instant Rice Noodles
I had the opportunity to visit President Rice Products in Ratchaburi province in Thailand last May. Truly an amazing place – I did a travelogue of the whole trip – here’s the day at President Rice Products portion! To start Meet The Manufacturer, I was to introduce Sodsai Hanchana, Assistant Managing Director of President Rice Products Public Company Limited, whom I conducted the following interview with.
THE RAMEN RATER> Thank you for agreeing to this interview! To start, can you tell my readers about the history of President Rice Products?
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> President Rice products has established in 1981 to produce instant rice vermicelli. The first factory located in Bangpu industrial estate, Samutprakarn province.
1988, the registration capital was raised up to 67 million Baht and the new factory has been built in Ban Pong district, Ratchaburi province.
1992, the first factory in Samutprakarn province was closed.
2008, the second factory in Ban pong province has been built in order to serve the increasing of market demand. Then total production total capacity from two factories is about 24,000 metric ton per year.
Our main raw material is Thai Rice which is considered to be the best rice in the World. Our products are made from Thai rice, carefully selected raw materials those are confirmed GMO free. Our manufacturing standard and control system are in good manufacturing practice and able achieving all World Class Standard such as HACCP and BRC. For those who prefer Halal foods we also have some products from one facility to serve them too.
TRR> What was the first product you made?
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> The first product of the company is MAMA instant rice vermicelli clear soup and being the first ranking in sales since that time up to now.
TRR> Your company is located in Thailand. Can you tell us a little about your country?
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> Our head office is located on the 9th floor, TF Building, Bangkok while current two factories are in Ban Pong district, Ratchaburi province.
TRR> Can you tell us about the varieties of rice noodles you make?
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> We can say that we produce 5 categories; Rice vermicelli and Rice noodles, Rice soup, Rice porridge and instant rice products. In each category we have varieties for choices such as
The cutting size of noodles could be 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 mm
The diameter of rice vermicelli could be 0.55, 0.65, 0.7 or 1.0 mm.
Products could be packed with or without seasoning sachets.
TRR> How many rice noodle products do you produce every year?
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> Currently we produce about 1,500 ton in a month or 18,000 ton in a year.
TRR> You make a wide range of products, including a lot of excellent Tom Yum flavor varieties. Have you thought of curry flavors?
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> Yes we can do rice noodles in curry flavor too those flavor are preferred to serve with rice. Then we have instant rice such Red curry and Green curry with rice.
Rice vermicelli and rice noodles are prepared mostly in light or normal soup style.
TRR> How does your rice noodle making process differ from other instant noodle manufacturers?
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> The rice noodles manufacturing process is completely different from the wheat noodles process because of rice characteristic itself. Rice is rather sticky after cooking and need time to reset and to form the noodles sheet. To get the perfect quality so then our current manufacturing process are tend to keep the traditional way and method. Some process is designed to run automatically to be more hygienic, to reduce some contamination or errors those may cause by human being. Even so the rice noodles manufacturing process is still need much more longer time than the wheat noodles manufacturing process.
TRR> Are rice noodles the only products you make?
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> Currently we have …
* Rice noodles
* Rice vermicelli
* Rice soup
* Rice porridge
* Instant rice
* Rice pasta
TRR> A lot of people are concerned with their sodium intake. How would you recommend people enjoy your product as part of a healthy meal?
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> We have our products with and without seasoning sachets.
They can take the plain ones. The rice noodles itself has very low Sodium because we don’t add any salt in products or process. They can enjoy our rice noodles with they own and design soup base.
If they prefer it with our seasoning they can study our nutrition information provided on the label and take some portions of it to suit them.
TRR> Are you involved in in your local community or participate in charities?
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> We mostly share our products and knowledges to nearby communities such as schools, universities, nearly villagers, some government offices and to some disaster relief organizations.
TRR> Are there any new products coming soon?
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> Yes. We have plan to launch new products at least ton products each year.
TRR> In what countries are your products popular? Do people enjoy them differently in different places?
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, United State, Some European countries, Australia, Taiwan and Korea
In Europe, our products are successfully been introduced into mainstream markets in UK, Sweden, Finland, Slovenia and Czech Republic. Products in oversea markets are mostly prepared as stir fry type.
TRR> When you make noodles for yourself, what do you like to add to them to make them extra special?
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> Actually the rice noodles taste is neutral and easy to get along with any kind of soup base or taste. So the intensity of soup, style and other protein parts will play more important role in each rice noodles dish.
Preparation method of rice noodles is important too. You can make it firm or soft as you prefer by selecting the proper cutting size or by preparation method. More advantage from rice noodles are its very low fat and free from gluten.
THE RAMEN RATER> Thank you very much for this opportunity to learn about President Rice Products and your products!
PRESIDENT RICE PRODUCTS> You are always welcome!
Well, there you have it! Let’s get started with Meet The Manufacturer! I want to thanks Sodsai and everyone at President Rice Products for their help and cooperation!
