HYPERMARKETS LOOK TO THE PROVINCES

Two major hypermarket operators - Big C Supercenter and Tesco Lotus - both added a new branch in the provinces.

Kudatara Nagaviroj, director of corporate affairs for Big C Supercenter Plc, said the company spent 125 million baht to develop the Big C Market on Thepkasattri Road in Phuket. With 2,500 square metres of retail area, the new branch offers over 15,000 items. It is the second Market format in the southern region and 12th Big C Market nationwide.

TESCO LOTUS DISMISSES PHUKET CLOSURE RUMORS

PHUKET: Tesco Lotus executives have dismissed rumors that the opening of its new hypermarket in Thalang will be followed by the closure of its flagship property near Phuket Town.

“The one in Phuket Town will stay open as long as people continue to shop there,” said corporate affairs executive Martin Clutterbuck.

The comments came following the opening ceremony of the new shopping mall, located off Thepkrasattri Road southbound near Thalang Hospital in Thepkrasattri subdistrict.

On hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony were Tesco Lotus Thailand Chairman Soonthorn Arunanontchai, Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Chaiwat Taephee, and Phuket Provincial Energy Office Chief Jirasak Tummawetch.

มหัศจรรย์ซุปเปอร์ชีป"ห้างหลังคาสังกะสี"ฟันปีละ4พันล้าน

ในวงการค้าปลีก-ค้าส่งของเมืองภูเก็ต ชื่อของ "ซุปเปอร์ชีป" (Supper Cheap) อยู่ในทำเนียบเบอร์หนึ่งของทุนท้องถิ่น ที่ยังคงยืนหยัดต่อกร กับกลุ่มโมเดิร์นเทรดที่รุกคืบเข้าไปเปิดสาขาครบทุกค่ายแล้ว ทั้งแม็คโคร บิ๊กซี เทสโก้ โลตัส และท็อปส์

"ซุปเปอร์ชีป" แปลตรงตัวก็คือ โคตรถูก...! สมดังสโลแกน "ขายส่ง ขายถูก" เป็นกิจการค้าปลีกสัญชาติไทย 100%

วันนี้ซุปเปอร์ชีปเป็นร้านค้าปลีกที่อยู่รับใช้ชาวภูเก็ตมานานกว่า 16 ปีแล้ว โดยบริษัท ซุปเปอร์ชีป จำกัด ได้ถือกำเนิดขึ้นเมื่อวันที่ 2 มิถุนายน 2538 ด้วยทุนจดทะเบียน 5 ล้านบาท จำหน่ายสินค้าอุปโภคบริโภค ค้าปลีก-ค้าส่ง

ผู้อยู่เบื้องหลังความสำเร็จ หรือแม่ทัพใหญ่ของซุปเปอร์ชีป ในปัจจุบันก็คือ "บุญสม อนันตจรูญวงศ์" เจเนอเรชั่นที่ 2 ของตระกูลอนันตจรูญวงศ์

ซุปเปอร์ชีป เริ่มต้นจากร้านโชห่วยเล็ก ๆ แล้วค่อยขยายจนกระทั่งเติบใหญ่กลายเป็นห้างสรรพสินค้าบนพื้นที่ราว 50 ไร่ ตั้งอยู่บริเวณถนนเทพกระษัตรี ตำบลรัษฎา อำเภอเมืองภูเก็ต

MBK TURNS FOCUS TO PROPERTY

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MBK Plc, the operator of MBK shopping centre, plans to spend 6 billion baht to expand its retail and property business in 2012-14.

Some 2 billion baht will be spent each year to develop mainly property and retail projects both in Bangkok and upcountry. Funding will come from the company's cash flow and bank loans.

MBK currently has 500 rai of land pending for new project developments, including community malls, with 300 rai in Phuket and the remaining 200 rai in Pathum Thani.

Central prepares for return of tourists

Central Retail Corporation will continue a store facelift for its Central Festival Phuket shopping complex next year to prepare for a tourism recovery and a return of foreign tourists to the island. A presenter in a colourful octopus costume promotes the Central Festival Phuket facelift, for which CRC has allocated 100 million baht.

The plan reflects improving sentiment in Phuket's tourism business. Direct and connecting flights to the island have edged up, particularly from China and Germany. The company plans to invest in internal design and a merchandising mix that matches customer demand, said Thanapon Tangkananan, CRC's vice-president for business development. From 30 to 40 tenants are waiting to open shops at Central Festival Phuket.

CRC has also allocated 100 million baht to renovating the complex and its surroundings. It has built a pedestrian bridge, linking the project with HomeWorks, and added a convention hall to serve government agencies planning exhibitions and fairs on the island.

The company is developing an education zone on the second floor of the mall, replacing HomeWorks DIY. Areas for children's clothes and for gift shops will be built on the fourth floor. Tops Market has also been upgraded to Central Food Hall. These changes should encourage shoppers to visit more often and stay longer than two hours per visit.

Central Festival Phuket has seen a 3-4% growth in traffic with about 4 million shopper visits to the complex in the first nine months of this year. Average spending remains about 1,000 to 3,000 baht per bill.

Mr Thanapon, also president of the Thai Retailers Association, expects the overall retail industry to grow by 4-5% this year, mainly driven by the setting up of new retail stores. Growth is expected to top 5% next year, spurred by the government's economic stimulus packages such as Thai Khem Kaeng, and investment in megaprojects such as railways.

Meanwhile, Central Pattana Plc, the developer of Central shopping complexes, is to spend more than 150 million baht to launch the "CentralPlaza Gift Wonderland 2010" and "The World of Happiness @ CentralWorld" campaigns to fuel year-end spending.

More than 200 events will be organised at all Central Plaza shopping complexes. The campaigns are aimed at boosting sales during the festive season.

Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, CPN's executive vice-president for marketing, said the company is confident that its overall revenue growth this year will be at least 25%. The company also hopes to attract 20% more customers and to increase sales at its shopping complexes during the festive season by 15-20%.