History
Shen Shuishi, known in Thai based on the Teochew pronunciation as Jui-Sai Sae-Sim (จุ้ยไซ แซ่ซิ้ม, ), was born in 1898 in Fujian, China. His ancestral home was Zhao'an County in Fujian.[1][5] In his youth in Fujian, he acquired substantial expertise in Traditional Chinese medicine and Chinese herbology while assisting a doctor in compounding medicines.[2][6] Escaping a war occurring in China, Shen moved in 1917 with his family to Bang Khla district in Thailand.[1][4][2] To make a living, he worked as a gardener and did poultry farming until he had enough to funds to start a grocery store at the floating market in Bang Khla district.[4][2] In 1935, Shen moved to the Bangkok neighborhood of Talat Noi.[4] Continuing to do manual work by day, Shen spent evening hours and leisure time on making herbal medicines.[4] He concocted a Chinese herbology formula that would alleviate coughs. Shen gave the medicine to his neighbors and family and found that it helped them.[6] Seeking to provide for his family, Shen wanted to make more money through selling medication that he named "Sim Tien Hor anti-cough pill".[4] He delivered the medications he created to pharmacies in Bangkok in the 1920s.[2][5]
When the Second World War reached Thailand and the Japanese occupied Bangkok, Shen moved with his family to Phra Pradaeng district.[2] He created the trademark "Five Centipedes" for the medicines and began selling the Takabb Anti-Cough Pill in Thailand.[3][5][7] For over two decades, he sold his products to Thai pharmacies on visits where he lugged bags containing the medicine.[2] He relocated to the Thonburi area of Bangkok in 1953 near the Sae Sim Shrine and established a pharmacy that sold Chinese medicines including those he produced.[4][2] While Shen ran the company, the company had no employees. Suthep Simawara, Shen's second-eldest son, said rather than have employees, Shen's five wives and children made the medicine.
After Shen died, his oldest son, Nivat Simawara, became the head of the company. Simawara shut down the pharmacy in favor of establishing the company Hatakabb in 1973.[4][2] The company's full name is Hatakabb (Sim Tien Hor). Sim Tien Hor is included as part of the name in parentheses.[4][2][5] Hatakabb was created to mass-produce the medicines for sale.[4][2][5] Owing to growing sales of its products, the company established a factory in Bang Khun Thian district on
Four members of the family's third generation began assisting in running the business by the mid-2000s.[9] The company hired members of the third generation of the family in leadership positions: Paiboon Simawara (son of Niwat Simawara) to be the international manager and Metha Simavara (Suthep Simavara's son) to become the factory manager.[8] According to a 2014 interview with Metha Simavara, the company's revenue has grown annually by 12%–17%.[10] Hatabb had 2014 revenue of ฿300million (US$0), and circa 2018 revenue of ฿500million (US$0).[10][11] Of the 2018 revenue, roughly 70% was from exports. Of the 30% of the revenue from domestic purchases, 70% of that came from tourist purchases.[11]
Hatakabb created the trading company called Hatakabb Trading (Thailand) Co. in 2015. Its charter was to import goods to sell to Thais. The two primary products the trading company sells are Porous Capsicum Chili Plaster, a type of pain relief patch, and the herbal ointment Yu Yee oil.[4][8] After collaborating with BIOTEC on creating a spray that treats coughs, Hatakabb began selling the spray in 2020.[12] A core goal of the third generation of leadership is to increase the international sales of the company products.[8]
