My understanding is there are only a small handfull of families that control the retail and food/grocer industries in Thailand. The two biggest, the above CP family and the creators of the Central Patanna family are at the top of the heap. The latter (I recall) owns all the Central group of shopping centers and department stores, Robinson, Power Buy, Super Sports, Big-C, Tops, (maybe Villa), B2S, Office Mate, Centara Hotels Group, and many other subsidiairies including property development (office and residential), and many others. The other few of that small handful are Bill Heneke who owns Minor Foods (I think that is KFC, Pizza Company, DQ, others), the family behind the Mall Group (Paragom, Em Quartier, and all the other "M" malls). And a few other super-rich like the Chang liquor baron. At the end of the day, it's quite difficult in the major cities to find any real competition other than the above. There is a second tier that is still way up there, like the owners of hospitality chains (e.g. another hotel groups like Dusit,  and food subsidiaries like Tim Hortons). 

10 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

You left out exploitation of workers - where do profits come from?

I often speak with staff at my local 7-11 and on my weekly trip to Big C to stock up, none of them say they are being exploited, rather they are happy to have employment.

As are the other mini-shops within or outside of these establishments

On 12/28/2024 at 7:48 AM, hotchilli said:

The dark side of Capitalism, but what's the alternative?

Revolution and anarchy, IIRC. 

1 hour ago, Drumbuie said:

Revolution and anarchy, IIRC. 

 

17 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I often speak with staff at my local 7-11 and on my weekly trip to Big C to stock up, none of them say they are being exploited, rather they are happy to have employment.

As are the other mini-shops within or outside of these establishments

 

In 2021, with an income Gini coefficient of 43.3 percent, Thailand still had the highest level of income-based inequality in EAP, and it ranked as the 13th most unequal of the 63 countries for which income Gini coefficients are available 

 

Source: World Bank

https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/thailand/publication/bridging-the-gap-inequality-and-jobs-in-thailand#:~:text=In 2021%2C with an income,income Gini coefficients are available. 

 

1 hour ago, Drumbuie said:

Revolution and anarchy, IIRC. 

Sure looks like that is becoming a real possibility.  Homelessness is rampant and violent crimes are on the upswing.  This contributes to instability.

On 12/28/2024 at 7:21 AM, Slocum said:

"Sourgrapes" 

Yeah, they have a monopoly on selling them too.

Sure, kudos where deserved, that's a lot of coin.

But let's be honest, typically a transition from a local shop to what they are now is not achieved by being nice or compassionate, and not without a helping hand from existing gatekeepers.

On 12/28/2024 at 7:48 AM, hotchilli said:

The dark side of Capitalism, but what's the alternative?

Co-operatives, stakeholder capitalism better than shareholder capitalism?