Vendor trucks sharing beloved singer’s name cause a racket

Vendor trucks sharing beloved singer’s name cause a racket

By The Nation

A family loads fresh produce onto their “pumpuang” truck near Wat Hong Rattanaram in Bangkok Yai district ready for another day of door-to-door sales./Nation/Prasert Thepsiri

The “pumpuang” trucks plying Bangkok streets selling vegetables, meats and other retail products, sometimes called “Mini Big C” trucks, have nothing to do with the late folk singer Pumpuang Duangjan or Big C.

The mobile markets have caused consternation among people who worry they could undermine the livelihoods of neighbourhood retailers.

Thai social media have carried criticism of the roving vendors lately, prompting Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday to ask the Commerce Ministry to check on their legality and their compatibility with government policy.

On Wednesday, Big C Supercenter issued a statement clarifying that it had only one “Mini Big C” truck operating in Bangkok and vicinity.

The retail chain said it was a pilot project and that market feasibility, cost and impacts were being assessed. It thanked the public for all input and promised to bear concerns and suggestions in mind.

The pumpuang vendors are independent retailers using modified pickup trucks or motorcycles with sidecars.

They make the rounds of crowded urban communities, housing estates and construction sites selling their diverse wares.

The name pumpuang, though of unknown origin, seems fitting, since both “pum” and “puang” translate as “bunch”, and these vehicles carry bunches of goods in small and more affordable quantities.

Some vendors also sell cooked food in single-serving packets, making their service even more of a convenience for budget-conscious consumers.

It appears to be viable way to make a living if the vendor remains diligent about buying goods in bulk at markets, repackaging them in smaller quantities and making their daily rounds.

Farmers often load up a pumpuang truck to earn income between harvests.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30342003

 

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