Carrefour, the world's second largest retailer is leaving Thailand

[lazygourmet]

I doubt #2 will sell to #1 - not that #1 wants it anyway.

Look for more Big C's would be my guess.

Big C are under French management as well and used to be called either Continent or Casino before end of the 90's drastic change of management.

The problem with the french is that they were never been able to adapt to the local market, even in Belgium -and we are neighbors- Carrefour are gone after several months of employees strike.

In the hospitality industry -which is my field- Ibis has to re brand most of their places to "All seasons" due to a lack of communication and a bad image.

[richard_smith237]

I think the Carrefour on Rama IV (End of Sukhumvit Soi 26) is a good supermarket and I'll be disappointed to see it go. It has a wide range of imported products that are not as over prices as similar products at the Gourmet Market at Emporium, Paragon and K. Village.

Tesco Lotus is Simply a zoo and I try and avoid it as much as possible - it always seems to be loaded with families on a day trip, pushing an empty trolly around the nice aircon.

Carrefour on Rama IV seems to be a happy medium where I can make a choice and find good quality imports or local produce. I'm not sure what the other Carrefour's are like but after reading the threads it appears that some are run poorly and target a different market than the Rama IV branch.

Edited July 7, 2010 by richard_smith237

[DMC1]

'Tesco Lotus is Simply a zoo and I try and avoid it as much as possible - it always seems to be loaded with families on a day trip, pushing an empty trolly around the nice aircon.'

haha...too right !! I think we all are a bit guilty of this at some some point though...

[Jingthing]

Of course Trader Joes in Thailand is strictly a pipe dream. And frankly even here if their products were sold for five times the US prices, it would be not very dreamy at all ...

[chainarong]

The French haven't been a world player for two hundred years, so who the hel_l cares.

[LennyW]

With Carrefour only having 38 outlets in Thailand as opposed to Tesco's near 4000 outlets, hardly surprising they are pulling out - difficult to compete with that sort of monoply!

[chainarong]

Target, can we get a Target pleeeeease!

Yeah ynot .

[Jingthing]

I wish the FM was more honest and said I am daunted!

[basjke]

With Carrefour only having 38 outlets in Thailand as opposed to Tesco's near 4000 outlets, hardly surprising they are pulling out - difficult to compete with that sort of monoply!

You been on the bottle again Lenny

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesco

Edited July 7, 2010 by basjke

[buddy]

Good! And I hope a load of other big international buisnesses leave, too. I work for an international comany here, and I've seen first hand how much red tape there is and how utterly arrogant the government is. A lot of international companies know this and move to countries that welcome foreign investment. This is what we call 'developing'.

The mentality of the goverment seems to have trickled down on to a lot of Thai peope. Like the Thai woman who asked me 'How can you work here? You're not Thai' The real paradox is a lot of Thai people wanna work for international companies and not their own, because they pay better and actually encourage and have prospects (Promotion, salary increase etc)

But what do I know? I've only seen for myself Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai.

Good but for different reasons.

I have seen in the UK how Tesco (the main protagonist) has destroyed the businesses of thousands of small retailers and the same is happening here. Thailand does not need western styled super stores. Kick the lot out. Today there is a report on how some of these companies are contributing to the destruction of rainforests. What I don't like is their apparent fundamental dishonesty. Green projects, organic etc are just a smokescreen to develop their businesses. They retail in every area like some massive hoover, hoovering up anything that stands in their way. Yup. Good riddance to the lot of 'em.

Actually you are all being fooled, guess who is the biggest retailer in Thailand.

Automatically think of the Superstores, Tesco? - Carrefour? - Big C?...the correct answer is 7-11, 5,000 plus stores!

[pifoux2000]

Thank the "redshirts". Who wants to be a target of arson? I'm sure their insurance rates have gone through the roof!

where are the red shirts in Singapore and Malaysia? Give them a break.

[LennyW]

With Carrefour only having 38 outlets in Thailand as opposed to Tesco's near 4000 outlets, hardly surprising they are pulling out - difficult to compete with that sort of monoply!

You been on the bottle again Lenny

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesco

Ooops, that was a typo shoud be 400 four hundred!!

[newbie001]

I seriously doubt that Walmart would move in its place. They pulled out of Korea over 5 years ago after failing miserably for years. I am surprised that Carrefour isn't doing well enough here. I have always found them to be full of customers. They seem to do as well as Tesco. I still don't understand going to large stores while there are so many fresh markets available. Produce is usually 20-30% more expensive at the large stores and it never seems as fresh as the daily markets. <br>

[djayz]

Wallmart is in the wing.

Is this a rumor or based on some facts? I like Walmart as much as I like Big C! NOT!

If they come here, will the Thai people start looking like this?

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

I'm outta here if they do!

Ah yes, the Walmart customers... gotta luv 'em, eh? A species we'll never see on the "endangered species list" (unfortunately).

[Scott]

I find local markets to be agonizingly difficult to shop at. First, it's difficult to find a place to park. Second, they are (usually) smelly. Finally, they are crowded. The selection is great and the food is reasonably priced. I tend to over-buy at them, partly because of the selection and partly because of the selection.

Good value for money, but inconvenient.

[JetsetBkk]

<snip>

98 ThB is for abroad tomatoes, on the local market you will have local tomatoes. Totaly different in taste.

<snip>

I think they taste the same. I had some tonight with my cheese and crackers with a dab of Branston pickle. Aroi maak.

[landofthefree]

Thank the "redshirts". Who wants to be a target of arson? I'm sure their insurance rates have gone through the roof!

Thank Abhisit after all the buck stops with him if he cant control his electorate, Oh nearly forgot they are not his electorate are they?Not until he proves so by having a general election.

[12DrinkMore]

Where will I be able to buy camembert cheese at a reasonable price?

Makro?

[givenall]

Wallmart is in the wing.

Don’t hold your breath.

As I understand Thailand is too small for Walmart. They only go to countries with 500 million plus population

[just_another_guy]

Personally I'd love to see Sears, Roebuck and Co. move into Thailand.

http://www.sears.com/

Yes, memories play a part with my personal opinion of Sears, Roebuck and Company.

[landofthefree]

Wallmart is in the wing.

Don't hold your breath.

As I understand Thailand is too small for Walmart. They only go to countries with 500 million plus population

Guess they will be looking at India and China then.

[Jingthing]

Walmart already is operating big time in China.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Jingthing

[prism]

I've gotten so used to our local CF, I know where everything is at. I hate to see them pull out. prefer them over Big C or Tesco. These big box stores are great when you have a family, which I have now.

[ianf]

Good! And I hope a load of other big international buisnesses leave, too. I work for an international comany here, and I've seen first hand how much red tape there is and how utterly arrogant the government is. A lot of international companies know this and move to countries that welcome foreign investment. This is what we call 'developing'.

The mentality of the goverment seems to have trickled down on to a lot of Thai peope. Like the Thai woman who asked me 'How can you work here? You're not Thai' The real paradox is a lot of Thai people wanna work for international companies and not their own, because they pay better and actually encourage and have prospects (Promotion, salary increase etc)

But what do I know? I've only seen for myself Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai.

Good but for different reasons.

I have seen in the UK how Tesco (the main protagonist) has destroyed the businesses of thousands of small retailers and the same is happening here. Thailand does not need western styled super stores. Kick the lot out. Today there is a report on how some of these companies are contributing to the destruction of rainforests. What I don't like is their apparent fundamental dishonesty. Green projects, organic etc are just a smokescreen to develop their businesses. They retail in every area like some massive hoover, hoovering up anything that stands in their way. Yup. Good riddance to the lot of 'em.

I firmly believe that the vast number of 7/11's in Thailand is far more to blame for the demise of other stores than the growth of foreign owned super stores.

Most towns in Thailand only have a single super store (they are not allowed to open more than one), yet the growth of 7/11's and to a lesser extent Family Marts, is destroying everything in it's path.

If you stop at a major PTT station you will see that all the traditional Thai food restaurants are deserted and everyone is buying junk food in the 7/11's.

I know many young Thais who virtually live on 7/11 junk food.

And for other products, no mini mart or traditional 'Mom and Pop' store can come close to competing with 7/11 on prices and profit margins.

In fact they go to the nearest Tesco or Big C to stock up on the groceries etc to sell at a small profit in their own shop.

As with so many things in Thailand, the wicked foreigners are blamed for the demise of small stores, when in reality it is far more due to the massive growth of 7/11's.

Thailand now has the third highest number of 7/11's in the world, after Japan and America., and the 7/11 franchise owners confidently predict they will overtake USA within 2 years.

To me that is a very scary prospect and will produce a generation of overweight, unhealthy kids.

A very good point and I agree with you wholeheartedly

[metisdead]

Wallmart is in the wing.

Got any proof for that, like a link?

[tominbkk]

Trader Joes! That's what we need here.

NOW someone is talking some sense!

[beejoir]

I thought Tescos was buying up all of Carrefours Asian branches?

[hkt83100]

<br><br>

<br><br>The thing that shocks me most is this perception:

<div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; color: rgb(28, 40, 55); line-height: 19px; ">"Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij is not worried by the investment withdrawal of the French hypermarket chain, Carrefour, in Thailand and still believes in the country’s potential to attract foreign retail investors."</span></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#1C2837" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><br></span></font></div><div><font class="Apple-style-span" color="#1C2837" size="3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">Some humans are blind in the head.</span></font></div>

I guess I am not telling you a secret, but sorry to tell you: Your post is slightly unreadable.

[eggomaniac]

Thank the "redshirts". Who wants to be a target of arson? I'm sure their insurance rates have gone through the roof!

To blame everything on the 'reds' is scatological thinking. The red AND yellow fight to get control of the pig trough is THE root, MAIN cause of Thailand's problems. The very earliest Khana Ratsadon leaders chose paths of corruption to become wealthy beyond belief and the broken System [marxist/facist] they imposed on Thailand has been raging for 80 decades. The only difference, or wrinkle, we are seeing nowadays, is the winner has not emerged quickly, or a gang land truce was not agreed upon, to protect the pig trough.

There is a 'silver lining' and a 'grey lining' in the clouds of the recent current events.

Silver is that the spot light is shining very brightly on the Thaksin's and Sondhi's and all of the other red and yellow mobsters, showing everyone it's the swamp that needs draining, NOT crocodile eradication, well that too. Snakes begone, too.

Grey, is the mobsters, with their 'stalemate' are reducing the size of the pig trough, less business, less bribery and kick backs. Eventually the lieutenants of the reds AND yellows, who will lose their corruption money first, will toss their leaders, make a PACT, divvy up the 'spoils' and call it democracy.

=========

Anybody who's pro yellow/ pro red/ anti red/ anti yellow is PART of the problem. The only chance Thailand has to not fall into bottom hundreds of World ranking is throw the red AND yellow leaders in jail, where they BOTH belong. Abhisit PROMISED he would; but a dolphin cannot survive in a shark tank. Anti red AND anti yellow if you love Thailand.

The saddest part, is Thailand, with a modern, World standard system of Governement could be a G30 Nation within 5 years, easily. The Joseph Plan would make this happen, quite easily.

Edited July 7, 2010 by eggomaniac

[cardholder]

98 Baht for TWO pre-packed tomatoes?...And I am daft enough to pay it.

Thankfully, I am blessed with half-a-dozen Muslim markets, almost within walking distance to my property, where a weekly shop costs no more than 200 Baht, for fresh fruit, salad and vegetables.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

98 ThB is for abroad tomatoes, on the local market you will have local tomatoes. Totaly different in taste.

If I want to eat a raw tomato(salad) I will shop for abroad ones, if I make tomato soup or sauce I will buy local ones.

Sensible post.