Thai Union

In 1977, Thai Union began its journey as a canned tuna processor and exporter under the name Asian Pacific Thai Tuna. Founded by Kraisorn Chansiri and his family, the company started with an initial capital of 25 million baht. The early business focused on producing canned tuna as a private-label supplier for US importers. A pivotal moment arrived in 1994 when the company, then known as Thai Union Frozen Products, went public on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. This event provided the capital for a new chapter of global expansion. The first major overseas move came in 1997 with the acquisition of Chicken of the Sea, the third-largest canned tuna brand in the United States. This set the playbook for future growth, which was heavily driven by acquiring established brands in key markets. Over the next two decades, Thai Union executed a series of strategic acquisitions. It bought US frozen seafood distributor Empress International in 2003 and expanded into Europe in 2010 by purchasing MW Brands, which owned popular names like John West and Petit Navire. The company also diversified its portfolio by acquiring Norwegian sardine brand King Oscar in 2014 and investing significantly in the US restaurant chain Red Lobster in 2016. This aggressive strategy transformed Thai Union from a regional processor into one of the world's leading seafood companies, with a vast portfolio of brands across continents.