International ice cream chain Baskin Robbins has exited Thailand after demand for its specialty ice creams plunged.

Golden Scoop Co Ltd., a subsidiary of Mud & Hound PCL which owns the Baskin Robbins brand in Thailand, decided to terminate the franchise, which was seeing reduced revenue after the flu pandemic hit the country.

Local media, citing Mud & Hound's financial statement, reported that Baskin Robbins had generated revenues of 600,000 USD - less than one percent of the company's total income of 62 million USD in 2021.

Pakin Penpakkaul, chief operating officer of Mud & Hound PCL, said that Golden Scoop Co Ltd had acquired a Baskin-Robbins franchise in 2013.

He said: 'We didn't make the sudden decision to close. We had planned this many years ago, after the business did not meet the expected income.

'In the past, many branches gradually closed, from more than 30 branches, with a lot of closures happening in 2020 due to the COVID situation. Since then, the number of shops dwindled down to four branches in 2022. Those were in the Siriraj Hospital, Siam Paragon, The Walk Kaset Nawamin, and K Village.'

He added that the volatile baht-dollar exchange rate had also contributed to the decision to close, saying all the ice cream had to be imported from the US.

He said of Mud & Hound will be looking into investing in other franchises instead, such as Dunkin' Donuts or Au Bon Pain.

Baskin Robbins had also pulled out of the Philippines last December 31.