Mobile minimarts launched
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) yesterday unveiled some of the “mobile minimarts” which will sell “clean” food around the island in a 1.5-million-baht initiative to promote food hygiene among vendors and buyers.
Phuket Technical College worked with the OrBorJor to design a stainless steel rust-free minimart attachment for motorbikes, at a cost of 23,000 baht each.
OrBorJor President Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr said food poisoning is a serious issue, “and this is why it is important that the food people eat is hygenic.”
The OrBorJor intends to have 100 mobile minimarts operating in the province’s villages, with the first 60 due to take to the roads on Sunday – HM the King’s birthday.
The “minimart” attachments will be given free to Phuket people who have been selling food from motor-tricycles for at least two years and who have a licence to do so. They must complete a food hygiene course before being allowed to go into villages to sell food.
New mobile minimart owner Ranu Pongthin told the Gazette, “I’m pleased to have this to earn a living.”
However, fellow vendor Pakinee Suwanmaneesin questioned whether 100 motor tricycles were enough.
