KSL

The First Step into the Sugar Industry

Our journey in the sugar business begun in 1945 with the strong determination and long term vision of the KSL group’s three co-founders who were Chinese-Thai businessmen. They vividly envisioned the strong potential of the sugar industry in Thailand and decided to jointly found a company, Kwang Soon Lee Co., Ltd., with a registered capital of 600,000 Baht in 1946 and Mr. Chuan Chinthammit became its first Managing Director. The others co-founders were all directors.

The company’s auspicious name, Kwang Soon Lee, was derived from three Chinese characters that were the middle names of the three partners’ original business establishments

The first office and factory were both located in Soi Kasemsanss 3 on Rama 1 Road, Bangkok. In 1952 the factory was moved from its site in Soi Kasemsans 3 to a new premise at # 38 Pechtkasem Road, Moo 5, Tambon Bang Wa, Amphur Pasichareon in Thonburi and was renamed as Thonburi Sugar Factory Co., Ltd. [plant 1] (Kwang Soon Lee). Production capacity was then increased to 250 bags per day.

Due to the then executives’ experiences and expertise, the business grew and flourished and a new sugar factory, Ang Vieng Industry Co., Ltd., was set up in Amphur Baan Bung, Cholburi. It was the first sugar factory that adopted modern technology to produce granulated sugar directly from fresh sugarcane juice. Later on, the company decided to establish companies to take over and construct additional two sugar factories as follows:

• 1. A sugar factory in Amphur Panasnikom, Cholburi was acquired. This factory was called Thonburi Sugar Factory [Plant 2].
• 2. Thonburi Sugar Factory [Plant 3] was built in Amphur Baan Pong in Ratchaburi Province.
• 3. New Krung Thai Sugar Factory, Tamaka Sugar Industry and Prachuab Industry established at Amphur Tamaka in Kanchanaburi Province.
• 4. Thonburi Sugar Factory [Plant 1] (Kwang Soon Lee) was again relocated to Amphur Bangpong in Ratchaburi Province.

KSL Group …Business Network

     There was a significant change in 1974. The shareholders embarked upon a structural re-organization and appointed Mrs. Nantha Chinthammit and Mr. Chavalit Chinthammit as the first chairperson and managing director, respectively. The head office was at # 186, 186/1-4 Siam Square, Rama 1 Road, Bangkok. In 1990, all sugar companies were merged under one management group, called KSL Group.

As a honor to the company’s co-founders, the name, KSL, is derived from the three English alphabets of its former name, Kwang Soon Lee. Presently, the KSL Group has four sugar affiliates with theirs factories’ premises in three regions as follows:

• 1. The Northeastern Region: Khon Kaen Sugar Industry Public Company in Khon Kaen Province
• 2. The Western Region: New Krung Thai Sugar Factory Co., Ltd., and Tamaka Sugar Industry Co., Ltd. In Kanchanaburi.
• 3. The Eastern Region: New Kwang Soon Lee Sugar Factory Co., Ltd. in Cholburi

In order to accommodate the group’s business growth, Khon Kaen Sugar Industry Co., Ltd. Diversified in 1992 into real estate development with a project to build a 21-storey office building at # 503 Sri Ayudhya Road in Rajathevi District, Bangkok. Upon completion in 1994, it has become the head office for all our affiliated companies. The building’s name is KSL Tower.

All the Group’s executives have enthusiastically joined force in making the Group the top market leader and the first sugar manufacturing group in Thailand to achieve ISO 9001:2000, HACCP and SQF 2000 (2002-2005) certifications.

With the sugar business as a stepping-stone and with the long term vision of all the Group's executives by Mr.Chamroon Chinthammit, a managing director, the KSL Group has diversified into many business ventures. Achievements in each project have accelerated the Group’s fame and success. They are: Thai Fermentation Industry Co.,Ltd. which produces seasoning products (Red Spoon brand) and is the largest exporter of seasoning products of Thailand; Chengteh Chinaware (Thailand) Co., Ltd. Which is a world-class producer and exporter of ceramic gift wares.

The First Sugar Industry Public Company registered in Security Exchange of Thailand.

KSL Group anticipates the potential growth in sugar industry and related business such as Ethanol business and Electricity Generation. In order to respond an awareness of sugar to expansion market consistently. The company transformed private company limited into Public Company Limited (Khon Kaen Sugar Industry Public Company Limited). Company registered in Security Exchange of Thailand on March 7, 2005 as group of Food and Beverage, named as "KSL".