Bangkok: The Transport Company Limited (BKS) has partnered with the Thai Restaurant Association to enhance the food service provided on their buses, ensuring meals are clean, fresh, and pleasing for travelers. This initiative is part of an academic cooperation project aimed at modernizing the food offerings for bus passengers.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Atthavit Rakjamroon, Managing Director of BKS, and Mrs. Thaniwan Kulmongkol, President of the Thai Restaurant Association, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve bus food services. The project aims to address the needs of modern travelers who seek convenience and quality. It also aims to support Thai SMEs by involving local entrepreneurs in food production, thereby boosting the local economy. The signing took place at the Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak) with executives from both organizations in attendance.
Mr. Rakjamroon noted that BKS operates numerous domestic and international routes and has prioritized service efficiency. The collaboration with the Thai Restaurant Association leverages the association's extensive network of restaurant operators to ensure that boxed meals are produced with high standards and traceability. This partnership is expected to enhance the passenger experience by offering better food options.
The initiative also aligns with BKS's policy to support local economies by engaging local entrepreneurs in food production. With over 4 million passenger trips annually, the collaboration aims to add value to services and promote Thai tourism and food culture through unique boxed meals on buses. The cooperation period for the MOU is one year, during which BKS will provide logistical support and distribute boxed meals sourced from local producers along bus routes.
The Thai Restaurant Association will oversee the selection and regulation of SME restaurants across various provinces to ensure meals meet set quality criteria. They will develop standardized menus and packaging, promoting local economies and Thai food culture. The association will also create special travel meal boxes tailored to different travel destinations, such as Isan meal sets for trips to the Northeast.
Mrs. Kulmongkol highlighted the association's commitment to providing quality meals on BKS buses. The association will select restaurants that meet its "Clean Food Good Taste" standards and develop special menus, including ready-to-eat meals and snacks suitable for long-distance travel. This initiative aims to enhance the revenue of small restaurant chains nationwide by catering to bus passengers.
This collaboration is expected to establish standards for travel meals and promote Thai cuisine on public transport, leveraging the "Thai Restaurant Travel Meal" as a soft power in the transportation system. The association will manage orders based on bus schedules to reduce staff workload while ensuring food hygiene and proper storage practices.