Mr. Disathat Panyarachun, Chief Executive Officer of PTT Oil and Retail Business Public Company Limited (OR), and Mrs. Kham Naksulit, Executive of Cafe Amazon, Rongkayasin Branch, along with Miss Morakot Srisawat, The Thai Ambassador to Vientiane, and Mr. Bualai Phanuwong, Secretary-General of the Lao-Thai Association for Friendship, attended the official opening ceremony of Cafe Amazon Concept Store, Rongkayasin Branch, in Chanthabuly, Vientiane, Lao PDR. Apart from being outstanding with the concept of "The Door to the Local Cultures," this branch is OR's first overseas concept store and is primed to be a new must-visit landmark in Lao PDR.
Mr. Disathat revealed: Cafe Amazon Concept Store, Rongkayasin Branch, is the first overseas concept store. With this, OR intends to weave the charms of local elements into its business and convey the gimmicks through different identities to let Cafe Amazon Concept Store tell unique stories. Concept stores always serve different signature beverages, but what's common is they all are fusion and value local cultures as the key component. There are signature menus that combine ingredients hand-picked from the community it is situated in to create something that is exclusive to that specific branch.
The signature menus at Cafe Amazon Concept Store, Rongkayasin Branch, are Tum Mak Hoong, which is a beverage that spotlights local cultures of Lao PDR and is inspired by Lao Papaya Salad, in a blend of 400-year-old white tea base, which is a popular product of Ban Ko Man, Phong Salee Subdistrict, in the northernmost part of Laos, and cucumber syrup for a sour twist; "Roselle Beer Laos," which is a mix between not-to-miss Beer Laos and refreshing roselle syrup; and "Kayasin Frappe," which serves a perfect combination of coffee and coconut milk to give a mellow and unique taste. There is also 'Concept Bar' to serve exclusive drinks, which is available only at Concept Stores, with well-selected coffee beans from Paksong, Champasak Province.
Additionally, furniture and decor are upcycled from waste or unused materials based on the circular living concept, which is always at the core of Cafe Amazon, to "create a better world," be they the marble counter surface, which combines leftover "egg shells," synthetic stones "Plas-Coff," a material that contains coffee fiber (silver skin), and leftover plastic discarded from the industry, to give a decorative sheet that boasts distinct textures in natural colors, and is totally of quality, flexible, and environmentally friendly. All sofa and chair covers within the store are made from "plastic bottle fiber" obtained from the upcycling process, etc
Apart from mingling in the community, promoting employment, and stimulating local tourism, Cafe Amazon Concept Store, Rongkayasin Branch, also serves as a platform for special local SME products, exclusive only to this branch. For example, handmade cloth bags with embroidered patterns made by indigenous tribes and non-profit groups to promote local grassroots businesses and sustainable development of the quality of life of the community while also reflecting the concept of The Door to the Local Culture.
In this regard, Cafe Amazon was first launched in Lao PDR in 2012 and is currently operating both inside and outside PTT service stations. With 92 branches available, they have enjoyed positive feedback from Lao consumers and OR aims at reaching over 100 branches throughout the country within 2024. This is another commitment of OR to introduce this Thai brand on the international stage, to strengthen success, and be recognized in the global market, as well as soaring as the world-leading beverage brand.
Source: PTT Oil and Retail Business
