Carrefour’s Thai operation has announced plans to triple its investment budget to THB3 billion (USD92.3 million) this year to open six or seven new hypermarkets, double the number originally planned.
"When the country has a government that comes from an election, it helps increase foreign confidence and attracts more investors to Thailand. So, we are confident that the country's economy will be better than last year," according to Segsarn Trai-Ukos, the business development manager. All of the new outlets will be modelled on the ChonBuri branch, its first "premium" prototype store format.
Apart from new stores, the company plans to spend at least THB240 million (USD7.3 million) to renovate its 24 existing stores and make them "premium hypermarkets" by the middle of this year, starting with the Rama IV, Phetkasem, Bang Yai, Ratchada and Pattaya branches. The merchandise mix will be adjusted, increasing the proportion of non-food and home decoration items and adding new anchors such as Boots personal-care stores.
Marketing director Prapaphan Ploysaengngam said the company would also join with Fun Characters International (Thailand), the local licensee for Disney consumer products, to co-develop Disney merchandise to sell at all Carrefour outlets this year. "When think about children's apparel, Disney is among the first choices for children. So, to expand to new families with children, Carrefour is teaming up with Disney globally to provide Disney items to Disney fans."
Retail News from http://www.planetretail.net Jan 9,2008
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