The Commerce Ministry will ask Makro to
help distribute products to Took Jai shops nationwide if Thailand Post cannot
solve its delivery problems, says the Internal Trade Department.
Some 3,000 Took Jai shops including 500 in
Bangkok sell low-priced goods to consumers nationwide.
The department is maintaining its target
of 10,000 shops total in operation by the end of this month.
Santichai Santawanpas, the department's
deputy director-general, said project delays stem from slow budget approval and
Thailand Post's inability to deliver products to retailers.
Outsourcing firms have been hired to help
speed up deliveries.
Retailers place their orders twice a month
with an average order value of 7,000 to 8,000 baht.
The department has prepared a back-up plan
by asking Makro to support goods distribution, particularly in Bangkok.
That company was selected due to its
earlier work with the department, plus it has a database of retailers.
Makro will receive a fee from providing
this service.
Applications on hand to operate Took Jai
shops now number between 12,000 and 13,000.
The government wants at least one shop in
each tambon.
The department will within the next two
months evaluate a list of goods to be sold in Took Jai shops.
Mr Santichai said the department expects
no shortages in the event of a recurrence of flooding this year, as companies
have already set up distribution centres in major provinces such as Chiang Mai
and Lamphun.
A Commerce Ministry source said the
ministry has completed a study of the cost structure of goods from production
to wholesale along with the retail system.
This will ensure there is no profiteering
anywhere in the process.
Products whose prices have been analysed
include cabbage, long beans, limes, pork, chicken, eggs, vegetable oil, fish
sauce, instant noodles and soap.
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