36 minutes ago, trucking said:

I used to buy vintage cheddar at Makro, nice but over 250 baht. Then I noticed ARO vintage cheddar. A lot cheaper so I have tried it. No complaints. Says on packet from New Zealand.. Tried the ARO hash browns. Best I have tasted so far. Even the wife likes them.

Mainland packaged as ARO

Was on sale last month for 150bht/500g ........ my fridge is full of ARO Vintage.

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Mainland packaged as ARO

Was on sale last month for 150bht/500g ........ my fridge is full of ARO Vintage.

Still there i think, i bought the Tasty, someone had bought all the vintage

On 4/24/2026 at 8:36 PM, Kinnock said:

Since the purchase by CP I think the quality of the fresh produce at Makro has improved, although there are now fewer of the Aro Makro own brand products, as I guess they have to purchase them from the original, European Makro company?

But I have no noticed a big difference in the range of products between different Makro stores.

I haven't been able to get ARO Instant Coffee at Pattaya Sukhumvit Rd branch for ages.

6 minutes ago, boloaf said:

I haven't been able to get ARO Instant Coffee at Pattaya Sukhumvit Rd branch for ages.

Try the Nescafe Espresso Roast instant, that's what I drink at home.

On 4/24/2026 at 6:52 PM, 0ffshore360 said:

On the increasingly rare occasions I have visited Makro it has been noticeable that product selection has been reduced significantly.

Initially I had the thought that the business was in some sort of decline or that for reason unknown there has been a disruption in supply.

Curiosity demanded an internet search for an explanation.

I found it but my computer capacity using a Chromebook inhibits my ability to post it here.

It seems that a new strategy is to focus diversity in favor of home brands.

IMHO that will not work well with historical customer base. Not only has product diversity been reduced but the emphasis appears to be on bulk purchase packaged items as well.

While Makro has always presented as a wholesale outlet it historically maintained a reasonable competitive range.

Now the range seems minimal and up priced which strikes me as contradictory to marketing announcements.

Perhaps early days but for products I have usually gone there for specifically that are no more I am less than impressed.

That’s not really surprising, and your observation is correct.

Since this former Dutch company was taken over by Thai owners, things have not improved for consumers; many products have disappeared from the range and the quality has not improved either.

Furthermore, you can see that there are only a limited number of major shareholders; Makro’s own brand ‘ARO’ can now also be found in Lotus stores.

Incidentally, the ARO own-brand was already in use at Makro in the Netherlands more than 40 years ago. We were also familiar with that abbreviation from a taxi company there even longer ago: ‘Alles Rammelt Onderweg’ (Everything Rattles on the Road)

19 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Mainland packaged as ARO

Was on sale last month for 150bht/500g ........ my fridge is full of ARO Vintage.

Yep,

I always grab 3 or 4 Aro or Mainland Vintage when i come across them.

But my local Makro is terrible for cheese, luckily i have another 2 Makro that i pass occasionally that stock the good stuff.

Lotus’s the same at changing their stock though, some time ago i bought some McCains Pub Style frozen fries, just how i liked them ( thick and a seasoned taste ).

When i wanted to buy some more i couldn’t find them ( tried Makro, Big C and Lotus’s) saw them yesterday in a small Lotus’s branch that i visit very occasionally.

Unfortunately got some tasteless shoestring things in the freezer now so didn’t buy the McCains, regret that decision ( Cheap Charlie Yorkshireman 😞 ).

On 4/24/2026 at 6:52 PM, 0ffshore360 said:

On the increasingly rare occasions I have visited Makro it has been noticeable that product selection has been reduced significantly.

Initially I had the thought that the business was in some sort of decline or that for reason unknown there has been a disruption in supply.

Curiosity demanded an internet search for an explanation.

I found it but my computer capacity using a Chromebook inhibits my ability to post it here.

It seems that a new strategy is to focus diversity in favor of home brands.

IMHO that will not work well with historical customer base. Not only has product diversity been reduced but the emphasis appears to be on bulk purchase packaged items as well.

While Makro has always presented as a wholesale outlet it historically maintained a reasonable competitive range.

Now the range seems minimal and up priced which strikes me as contradictory to marketing announcements.

Perhaps early days but for products I have usually gone there for specifically that are no more I am less than impressed.

Supermarket chains, especially giants like Makro, simply examine the sales data and will stock what sells. An obvious consequence is that if a product is not selling well enough, it will ultimately be de-listed. That's just supply and demand at play.

Stock on shelves costs money. A faster seller justifies its space on the shelves.

I worked in IT for Tesco in the UK for 27 years. As UK readers will know, the aisle-end shelves were used for promotions because aisle end space is simply seen by more customers (you don't have to walk down the aisles either side of it to pass it). All the product category managers were keen to get their promotions on the aisle ends each week, and there were always more promotions than there was aisle-end shelf space. One guy had the responsibility of organising this bun fight. Everyone knew he had an initial hurdle that you had to cross before you even approached him for the aisle-end shelf space: to convince him that you expect at least 12 times normal sales for your promoted product, or it's not worth it. This is an example of how much shelf space is worth.

As an aside, I also learned another simple fact about UK promotions: you never see washing detergent (or similar products, such as toilet rolls) on promotion. Why? As the product manager for washing detergents told me, 'You're not going to wash your clothes more frequently so it would just be stored in a cupboard and be offset against future sales'.

Edited April 27Apr 27 by IsaanT

On 4/25/2026 at 9:40 AM, KhunLA said:

Maybe the very few Thais you've encountered don't have money, but there's a huge middle class here, that have way more money than you.

It's worth bearing in mind that around 50% of the Thai population are involved in agriculture and my first-hand awareness is that the average agricultural worker doesn't have much money. There's no 'middle class' in agriculture so that covers half the population.

With respect, your example is not representative of the average Thai.

Once I knew an Indian and a Chinese in LA who mostly talked and complained about high prices in the U.S. . Always compared prices with their hometown (India & China) 🙄😂🤣

Must be a difficult way of life 🤔

7 minutes ago, OneManShow said:

Once I knew an Indian and a Chinese in LA who mostly talked and complained about high prices in the U.S. . Always compared prices with their hometown (India & China) 🙄😂🤣

Must be a difficult way of life 🤔

Lower Alabama?

up here in Chiang Mai their is only one high end audio shop. i beginning to think that all the money is down in Bangkok. its an expensive hobby. frustrating that i have to travel to SG, BKK or HK

My mate reckons he can get Vegemite and 4square frozen pies (Sustralia products) in Makro Korat somewhere. Not seen in mine at Chantaburi but they have wine. Went to the one in Sa Kaeo had no wine at all

2 hours ago, IsaanT said:

Supermarket chains, especially giants like Makro, simply examine the sales data and will stock what sells. An obvious consequence is that if a product is not selling well enough, it will ultimately be de-listed. That's just supply and demand at play.

Stock on shelves costs money. A faster seller justifies its space on the shelves.

I worked in IT for Tesco in the UK for 27 years. As UK readers will know, the aisle-end shelves were used for promotions because aisle end space is simply seen by more customers (you don't have to walk down the aisles either side of it to pass it). All the product category managers were keen to get their promotions on the aisle ends each week, and there were always more promotions than there was aisle-end shelf space. One guy had the responsibility of organising this bun fight. Everyone knew he had an initial hurdle that you had to cross before you even approached him for the aisle-end shelf space: to convince him that you expect at least 12 times normal sales for your promoted product, or it's not worth it. This is an example of how much shelf space is worth.

As an aside, I also learned another simple fact about UK promotions: you never see washing detergent (or similar products, such as toilet rolls) on promotion. Why? As the product manager for washing detergents told me, 'You're not going to wash your clothes more frequently so it would just be stored in a cupboard and be offset against future sales'.

Thank you for your intelligent and interesting contribution.

Many years ago at Uni when studying Economics I had to do a project on the psychology of a Supermarket- and learned so many uinteresting facts

The thinking that goes in to the layout and design of a large supermarket is awesome

4 hours ago, IsaanT said:

As UK readers will know, the aisle-end shelves were used for promotions because aisle end space is simply seen by more customers (you don't have to walk down the aisles either side of it to pass it)

This one has always surprised me. When I'm at the supermarket I walked up and down every aisle until I got to the end then headed for the checkouts with my trolley. I always thought most people would do the same. This meant aisle ends were mostly missed unless I glanced in, or was flitting about from aisle to aisle in an abstract manner, which would seldom occur.

Edited April 27Apr 27 by treetops

3 hours ago, Legal Lifeline said:

Thank you for your intelligent and interesting contribution.

Many years ago at Uni when studying Economics I had to do a project on the psychology of a Supermarket- and learned so many uinteresting facts

The thinking that goes in to the layout and design of a large supermarket is awesome

An IT colleague of mine once recounted that he had recently visited his grandparents and they asked what he was doing now. "I work in the computer division at Tesco". The response was "They've got computers, have they?". 😄

For context, we had some of the largest IBM mainframes in the country at that time, with over 1,000 staff in the IT division. What's more, the standards in the division were industry-leading and thus getting another job after leaving Tesco was very easy.

When I joined Tesco in 1987 it was the second-largest supermarket in the UK to Sainsbury's. When I left it was the leader by far and had expanded into many countries overseas (it actually had more supermarket space overseas than in the UK, including Lotus in Thailand, of course - since sold). I could write a book about what I learned and experienced working there but I have a life so it won't be happening any time soon.

Edited April 27Apr 27 by IsaanT

6 hours ago, IsaanT said:

It's worth bearing in mind that around 50% of the Thai population are involved in agriculture and my first-hand awareness is that the average agricultural worker doesn't have much money. There's no 'middle class' in agriculture so that covers half the population.

With respect, your example is not representative of the average Thai.

More like 30-40%, which would count as a minority of the population, Don't forget, a lot of those farmers are holding land worth millions, so far from poor.

But irrelevant to my post, as replying to someone who hates and knows very little about Thailand. Simply stating ...

"Thais don't have money.

Thais are BROKE"

Couldn't be farther from the truth. He was even going on about how his wife has big house in Bangkok. But Thais have no money & broke. 🙄

Contradictions from the normal Thai haters & bashers.

All the Thais I know are quite comfy, and even the ones, farmers from the villages at Udon & NBLP area. Nobody suffering.

On 4/24/2026 at 8:36 PM, Kinnock said:

Since the purchase by CP I think the quality of the fresh produce at Makro has improved, although there are now fewer of the Aro Makro own brand products, as I guess they have to purchase them from the original, European Makro company?

But I have no noticed a big difference in the range of products between different Makro stores.

Hua Hin and Pran Buri ,,, night and day difference

I drive the 35 minutes to Hua Hin as oppossed to the 5 minutes in PB

12 minutes ago, Luuk Chaai said:

Hua Hin and Pran Buri ,,, night and day difference

I drive the 35 minutes to Hua Hin as oppossed to the 5 minutes in PB

Agree. PB really cut way back on western items, over the years. I think even ours at Muang, PKK has almost the same. HH so much better.

5 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Agree. PB really cut way back on western items, over the years. I think even ours at Muang, PKK has almost the same. HH so much better.

I usually buy my Aussie beef primals ( Angus ) @ HH

went to PB last week just to grab some heavy cream for the coffee .. the had grass fed Angus / a whole chuck roll at a real good price

when I got it home and opened it up I gagged and almost barfed.. it was so rotten

bagged it right back up and brought it back ,, ladies at the desk were looking at me like I was nuts until my wife told them to open the bag and take a wiff..... instand refund !!

On 4/24/2026 at 8:31 PM, BritManToo said:

Times have changed, inflation is serious in the west.

Yes, it has... Even getting there has exploded in price.

On 4/27/2026 at 5:06 PM, KhunLA said:

All the Thais I know are quite comfy, and even the ones, farmers from the villages at Udon & NBLP area. Nobody suffering.

All my neighbours are broke, sinking in a sea of dept, and one paycheck from being reprocessed.

They all have new cars and send their kids to private schools though.

Edited April 28Apr 28 by BritManToo

On 4/27/2026 at 11:58 AM, Bluetongue said:

My mate reckons he can get Vegemite and 4square frozen pies (Sustralia products) in Makro Korat somewhere. Not seen in mine at Chantaburi but they have wine. Went to the one in Sa Kaeo had no wine at all

I've been to several Makro's in several provinces and have never seen Vegemite.

Would be nice though.

Couldn't be farther from the truth. He was even going on about how his wife has big house in Bangkok. But Thais have no money & broke. 🙄

Contradictions from the normal Thai haters & bashers.

There's an expression common even in US suburbia: House poor.

They "own" a house and can't make those payments, never mind have money left over for luxury imported wines. Same with farmers sitting on millions of dollars of farmland that's virtually unprofitable, year after year. Their wealth is tied up in a non-liquid asset, and they don't have a pot to pee in unless they sell that asset. Which, they ain't gonna do. Land value appreciation compensates for their operating losses. But operating income pays for trips to Makro.

Obviously, that's not all Thai people. But it's pretty common.

1 hour ago, impulse said:

There's an expression common even in US suburbia: House poor.

They "own" a house and can't make those payments, never mind have money left over for luxury imported wines. Same with farmers sitting on millions of dollars of farmland that's virtually unprofitable, year after year. Their wealth is tied up in a non-liquid asset, and they don't have a pot to pee in unless they sell that asset. Which, they ain't gonna do. Land value appreciation compensates for their operating losses. But operating income pays for trips to Makro.

Obviously, that's not all Thai people. But it's pretty common.

One does have to 'live with those choice', and within one's means.

If a farmer, if all you do is farm, especially a rice farmer and only plant once a year, then you should definitely be doing something else in those months of down time to generate income.

When I was younger, if I only relied on one income stream, I'd still be working in the USA, as none would provide enough income to live a good lifestyle as a single person, let alone try to raise a family. My saving grace, raised a kid after I retired, when actually having the time & money.

If a fan of ARO FZ Blueberries, our local branch selling @ ฿105 / kg bag.

Have paid as much as ฿229 when out, but usually pick up at their usual sale price of ฿179, and sometimes as low as ฿129, though rare. So 4 more bags today, and our small freezers are full up now.

"Thais are broke" ?

they keep opening international schools with 90% Thais who pay 50.000THB a month ahah

Back to pricing,

Their own brand 2Kg french fries were 89bht when I first married in Thailand (15 years back) and started cooking at home.

Then the price crept up to 129bht+ and I stopped buying them 2 years back.

This week 79bht for 2Kg, not even advertised as 'special offer'!

Just had some for lunch, well worth the price.

Edited July 3Jul 3 by BritManToo

On 6/19/2026 at 1:24 PM, KhunLA said:

If a fan of ARO FZ Blueberries, our local branch selling @ ฿105 / kg bag.

Have paid as much as ฿229 when out, but usually pick up at their usual sale price of ฿179, and sometimes as low as ฿129, though rare. So 4 more bags today, and our small freezers are full up now.

Make blueberry jam, no pectin required, just blueberries and sugar.

I usually make microwave raspberry or mixed berry jam using their frozen packs.

Costs a fraction the price of their jars of jam and no added chemicals required.

1Kg of berries + 0.5Kg sugar = 4-5x jars of jam costing about 30bht each.

Edited July 3Jul 3 by BritManToo

40 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Make blueberry jam, no pectin required, just blueberries and sugar.

I usually make microwave raspberry or mixed berry jam using their frozen packs.

Costs a fraction the price of their jars of jam and no added chemicals required.

1Kg of berries + 0.5Kg sugar = 4-5x jars of jam costing about 30bht each.

How do you make it?