Public outrage over approval for CP Group's acquisition of Tesco Lotus

[ravip]

This has been happening for decades, all over the world!

Why all this furore for this?

Seems very few people had known about it...

[John Drake]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

“It is not in line with the spirit of the competition law, which aims to prevent companies having market dominance to unfairly enjoy an advantage over other competitors,” said Nipon, a former member of the competition committee when it was under the supervision of the Commerce Ministry.

 

I hope this guy has a bodyguard.

[SomchaiCNX]

Just now, worgeordie said:

All CP did was buy back an asset they used to own, when they sold it to Tesco

after the 1997 financial meltdown in Asia.

 

They now control food products in Thailand, from manufacturing, wholesale,

and many retail outlets ,they have it all covered.

regards worgeordie

Yes I remember that, it went from zero customer service and warranty to 90% in just a couple months, could not believe it. For the first time we actually had some service in a big shop. Yesterday I was joking with one of the girls as the tea I wanted was out of stock for more than a week. She phoned the office and they told me that it will not be continued. I joked with her and did ask, did CP take over already? ???? did not know ????

[ravip]

2 hours ago, scorecard said:

I don't buy that.

There are plenty who want the current outrageous gap in income strongly reduced. 

 

Currently Thailand has the biggest gap in the world regarding the gap in income. 

Could this be the great reason that 1000's of foreigners are clamouring to retire here? Are they missing the "income gap" back home?

[SomchaiCNX]

But... but you can not blame Tesco for getting out of this mess. Plenty of foreign companies in the same branch sold their shares a long time ago. Doing something (set-up or business) in Thailand is not easy, I wonder why ????

 

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, Oldie said:

I wouldn't complain too much about this. If labor costs increase to western standards then Thailand will get very expensive. These low labor costs are the reason why Thailand is still somehow affordable. I wouldn't call Thailand cheap anymore. Many products here are more expensive than in my home country. 

Point taken. I'd prefer to think this in terms of the quality of life, welfare etc., of the Thai populace.

 

 

[SomchaiCNX]

Just now, John Drake said:

 

I hope this guy has a bodyguard.

Getting plastic surgery would be better ???? He is ugly as hell  ????

 

[John Drake]

17 minutes ago, reptile91602 said:

Sound like these guys  have studied american strategies and love it. Conglomerates owning everything in their business sectors. No competition, no problem.

 

Why not? The did it with the medical sector and health insurance. You can now enjoy the same efficiencies and cost cutting measures already common in America's food supply chain. Like in America, where it's buy at Wal-Mart or else, you now have a choice of CP and CP and CP.

[John Drake]

5 minutes ago, SomchaiCNX said:

But... but you can not blame Tesco for getting out of this mess. Plenty of foreign companies in the same branch sold their shares a long time ago. Doing something (set-up or business) in Thailand is not easy, I wonder why ????

 

 

Except for Jack Ma. But then Jack is from . . .

[Iforbach]

Makro .  Rule

[ratcatcher]

8 minutes ago, John Drake said:

 

Why not? The did it with the medical sector and health insurance. You can now enjoy the same efficiencies and cost cutting measures already common in America's food supply chain. Like in America, where it's buy at Wal-Mart or else, you now have a choice of CP and CP and CP.

What ever happened to   and   then? And for the select few, &   

[KKr]

1 hour ago, Oldie said:

Thailand is still somehow affordable. I wouldn't call Thailand cheap anymore. Many products here are more expensive than in my home country

Which proves the point this thread is making.

[Katipo]

There is no way in hell that this should be approved. That it has been, makes it clear that the Thailand has not moved forward with regards to eliminating corruption and unfair practices.

And I don't think anyone anywhere would believe this didn't happen without brown envelopes. So disappointing.

[Susco]

2 hours ago, Oldie said:

I wouldn't call Thailand cheap anymore. Many products here are more expensive than in my home country. 

 

You mean the products that were imported from your home country?

[John Drake]

8 minutes ago, ratcatcher said:

What ever happened to   and   then? And for the select few, &   

 

You forgot Gourmet Market, owned by The Mall Group. I have one less than 1 km from my house. It's a shorter walk than the 3.5 km to my nearest Foodland. Too bad it has a lousy selection. CP will just erode these others' market share. 

[fruitman]

6 hours ago, Hawaiian said:

Lack of competition never benefits the consumer.

It's why Thai supermarkets are much more expensive than in Europe. Thailand needs Aldi or Lidl or both and everybody will be so happy to shop there. Because of the monoplies Thailand became too expensive for what it is...

[Susco]

6 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Too bad it has a lousy selection. CP will just erode these others' market share.

 

So is it CP's fault that others don't know how to run a supermarket?

[Susco]

3 minutes ago, fruitman said:

It's why Thai supermarkets are much more expensive than in Europe. Thailand needs Aldi or Lidl or both and everybody will be so happy to shop there. Because of the monoplies Thailand became too expensive for what it is...

 

They had Carrefour, Casino and now Tesco, that have left because they could not compete with the too expensive prices of the Thai run supermarkets?

[Jimbo53]

11 minutes ago, Katipo said:

There is no way in hell that this should be approved. That it has been, makes it clear that the Thailand has not moved forward with regards to eliminating corruption and unfair practices.

And I don't think anyone anywhere would believe this didn't happen without brown envelopes. So disappointing.

It was a Business Aquisition,to my knowledge there were no other Companies' nterest in it.

[ThaiFelix]

A threat to true democracy.  I dont need to explain why.

[SupermarineS6B]

Are you surprised ?  This is the same person that is directing the individuals calling themselves a government to keep out normal tourists for rich ones only.........  Do you see a trend now ?   

[Susco]

5 minutes ago, Jimbo53 said:

It was a Business Aquisition,to my knowledge there were no other Companies' nterest in it.

You should improve your knowledge

 

https://retailanalysis.igd.com/news/news-article/t/thai-conglomerates-bid-for-tesco-lotus/i/24264

 

Three bids on the table

The bidders are reported to be:

• Charoen Pokphand (CP Group), the diversified business that owns Thailand's 7-Eleven convenience stores. It is already the grocery market leader in Thailand.
• Central Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests spanning retail, hotels and leisure. It owns of Central Food Group, Thailand's fourth largest grocery group.
• TCC Group, the major shareholder in Thailand's third largest food retailer Berli Jucker, owner of Big C supermarkets.

[scorecard]

6 minutes ago, Jimbo53 said:

It was a Business Aquisition,to my knowledge there were no other Companies' nterest in it.

But that shouldn't be a factor. If it's not in the public interest they should wait until an approved buyer bids, or split the company, etc. 

 

The public interest / civil society should dominate.

[dallen52]

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. 

 

Monopoly is just a board game here.

[kiwikeith]

3 hours ago, scorecard said:

and perhaps even worse it's why conglomerates get richer / the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer because they have little option but to pay through the nose for many products, all reducing their meagre spending power, their ability to buy a home, get better education etc.

Do tv posters not know that the enlightened one is great mates with CP group, they are behind the STV they have massive insurance interests, the govt made laws that state insurance must be obtained in Thailand from any 1 of 14 Thai companies that cut off insurance at 76 yrs of age. If you have a non OA visa and over 76 you have problems, and if your under that you have to buy insurance from any one of these companies in LOS.

 

You can enter on a NON OA for one year with a policy obtained from another company but when you go to renew your visa you will strike problems,

All passed by law by the instructed one, he could not do this by himself.

[SuwadeeS]

Congratulations to Thailand.

Becoming more like China.

 

1. The government is run by rich.

2. You must be e member of the right party to become a piece of the cake.

3. Censorship.

4. The news are censored, filtered and manipulated.

5. They don't care about copyrights.

6. ...I could continue for hours.

 

Oh, I forgotten. Thailand is owned by China and chinese roots people..

 

The Land of the free. B.....t. 

It's already a chinese colony.

[shackleton]

I found Tesco Lotus very good for shopping

And hopefully it will continue under the new management 

A satisfied customer????

[Misterwhisper]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

netizens have expressed their frustration after the Office of Trade Competition Commission (OTCC) approved conglomerate Charoen Pokphand's acquisition of retail giant Tesco Lotus...

 

...before visiting the next Makro or 7-Eleven for their Sunday shopping. 

 

And what is the role of that toothless paper tiger, the "competition committee", anyway? Has it changed anything in Thailand's monopolistic trade and commerce landscape sinc eit came into being? Of course not. 

 

For instance, there still are only 2 licensed, commercial alcohol producers in the country... just as there have always been.

 

The same goes for department store chains. Regardless what names individual outlets may carry, almost all of them are owned and operated by only 2 companies.

 

Cinemas? Only 2 large operators who have basically snuffed out all competition.

 

Fast food chains? Same picture. Regardless of brand name, they are ALL owned by 3 companies. And I bet the "outraged" and "frustrated" public couldn't name them even if their lives depended on it.

[crickets]

Prayut should use his power to step into this because it is unfair for the consumer. Prices will go up eventually and people can't really go anywhere else.

 

[ICELANDMAN]

Why ask for ten when you can ask for a hundred if you have an almost total monopoly on the market. (Chinese proverb for the richest thirteenth in the world.

And now when you enter Macro and Lotus you can check that you get poorer on exit.