RMA Cambodia, which runs businesses in the automotive, heavy equipment and food and beverage sectors, experienced strong growth in the first half of the year, a company executive said yesterday.

Ngorn Saing, CEO of RMA Cambodia, said the group’s consolidated sales grew by almost 40 per cent during the first six months of 2016 compared to the same period last year. He attributed the growth to the introduction of new products, outlet expansions and enhanced customer service.

“We have changed the way we respond to the market, and the way we respond to our customers,” he said. “And the way we listen to our customers is very effective.”

According to Saing, the sales growth was distributed across the company’s three main sectors, but was highest in the automotive sector, where RMA is the authorised local distributor for Ford, Jaguar and Range Rover.

“We have great products compared to the competitors and we are much better in safety, technology and comfort,” he said, adding, “but the competitors are doing great also.”

RMA’s food division, managed by subsidiary Express Food Group (EFG), also saw significant growth in the first half of the year, according to Saing.

“On the food side, we brought in new products and new outlets, like Krispy Kreme, and we opened new outlets for our existing products such as Pizza Company and Dairy Queen,” he explained, adding that EFG plans to open 17 more food and beverage outlets by the end of the year.

RMA’s heavy equipment sector received a boost from recently opened John Deere tractor showrooms in three provinces, Saing said. However, he expects sales growth to slow in the second half of the year as the result of unseasonably low rainfall and drought, which could translate into less agricultural equipment sales.