Fruit promotions run by the Thai government in southern Chinese city help drive sales

Festivals run by Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) in Guangzhou have helped increased Thai fruit sales in 2023.

According to a report from The Nation, the DITP said orders at the ongoing Thai Fruits Golden Months and Thai Durian Festival now total Bt20m (US$575,000), up 260 per cent from the same period in 2022.

The festivals are being held in Guangzhou and across the wider Guangdong province at the Lotus chain of supermarkets operated by Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group.

DITP chief Phusit Ratanakul Sereroengrit said the department estimates the sales during the events will exceed Bt80m (US$2.3m). 

The festivals are promoting Thai durian, mangosteen, longan, rambutan, and coconut and feature discounts and demonstrations of how to peel and eat the fruits.

The festivals are running at 56 Lotus branches across the city and wider Guangdong province. The products are also being sold at special prices through the online platforms Lotus Go APP and the WeChat Miniprogram of Lotus hypermarkets.

The DITP is also harnessing online channels running festival promotions via social media platforms like Weibo, WeChat, Xiaohongshu, TikTok, and KOLs.