Kittipong “Kit” Wannaphikhat

CEO, TAPI SEAFOOD

Industry : Business

Kittipong “Kit” Wannaphikhat didn’t originally set out to become a seafood supplier, he trained to be a chef. During his time in the kitchen, working with various chefs and restaurants, he often ran into the issue of inconsistency in ingredients. Seafood would vary in both quality and quantity, making it difficult to meet the precise standards chefs required. A casual conversation with a fellow chef led him to consider sourcing seafood from his hometown in Surat Thani. Realising he could bridge the gap between kitchens and local fisheries, Kit decided to step away from the stove and start Tapi Seafood.

He focuses on sourcing seafood from local fishermen instead of relying on imports. His goal is to enhance the quality of local seafood to meet international standards, thereby expanding the market for indigenous products. His initial goal is to support fishermen who adopt sustainable fishing practices. Kittipong believes that when fishermen succeed with sustainable methods, it encourages others to do the same. This change helps their businesses and offers consumers access to good-quality seafood at fair prices. By managing smaller catches, fishermen can increase their profits while helping the ocean recover. Through his work at Tapi Seafood, Kittipong is helping to promote a more sustainable seafood industry and support local communities.