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Thailand: Big C makes fresh start with Food Place model
Big C Supercenter Plc has introduced a new supermarket platform, Big C Food Place, to serve consumers’ urban lifestyles.
The first Big C Food Place store will open at the Gateway Bang Sue retail project in an 800-square-metre space at an investment cost of 40 million baht in October.
A second branch is due to open on the ground floor of Samyan Mitrtown in October of next year in a space of more than 800 sq m.
“Big C Food Place at Samyan Mitrtown will have the largest fresh food department of all the Big C platforms, offering ready meals, organic products and raw food materials,” said Vipada Duangratana, deputy chief executive of Big C Supercenter Plc.
Big C Food Place aims to cater mainly to school and university students, teachers, office workers, tourists, freelancers and residents of the Sam Yan area.
Innovations at the store will include use of electronic price tags and reduce usage of plastic bags.
In addition, Big C has developed digital platforms such as self pay, cashless payment and product information.
The company expects to draw 1,200-1,500 visitors a day to Big C Food Place.
Thiranant Kornsritipa, executive vice-president for retail business development at Golden Land Property Development Plc, Samyan Mitrtown’s developer, said Big C Food Place will help complete Samyan Mitrtown as an urban lifestyle hub drawing more than 25,000 customers a day.
Samyan Mitrtown will provide 36,000 sq m of retail shopping space on six floors. Of the total, four floors will provide 24-hour service.
Surawoot Tankarnjananurak, senior vice-president for space, range and display at Big C Supercenter, said Big C Food Place complements the three existing retail formats under Big C Group: hypermarkets (Big C), supermarkets (Big C Market) and convenience stores (Mini Big C).
There are 143 Big C hypermarkets nationwide, with three new branches opening in the second half of this year. The number of Big C supermarkets will rise to 61 stores after the opening of Big C Food Place in the Bang Sue area in October this year.
Mini Big C is expected to increase to 780 branches by year-end, up from 600 last year.
Mrs Vipada said the company is considering construction of a distribution centre next year in the Northeast to support future growth. The project would require a 30-rai plot and investment of 1 billion baht.
Big C has distribution centres in Bang Na, Wang Noi and Lat Krabang.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1483805/big-c-makes-fresh-start-with-food-place-model