Carrefour Stores Change Name To Big C Extra

[pacovl46]

Big C is still Big C regardless of the name on the building. The selections are already changing and shows no signs of letting up. I want my CA FOO! Time to shop at Villa and Foodland I suppose.

big c is still better than tesco because tesco is nothing but a mini walmart, and we all know walmart's tactics which tesco chooses to copy. if u r from europe then foodland will have a nice selection of cheeses, sausages and proper bread for u!!! ;-)

[jackdawson]

big c rox !

welcome to the 'hood

[nikkoid66]

Carrefour "traiteur" products are the best. Great quiches and croissants, fish is fresh.

Big C is like Tesco, big superstore of old products full of conservative and s.hit. In Pattaya the s.hit smell is horrible in Biv C north Pattaya.

Tesco? I puchased Gillette rasors there, they were not cutting, problably cheap Chinese copy, I never got this problem anywhere else.

One thing: buy fresh products at local markets. 20 baths 1 kb of fresh mango.

Edited May 14, 2011 by nikkoid66

[Oberkommando]

I was in Carrefour for the first time in years the other day. Instantly noticed everything was at least 30% more expensive for the same items as Tops, MaxValue and Foodland. Will not be returning.

[bartender100]

One thing i will NOT miss about Carrefour in Pattaya is the bloody annoying jingles constantly blaring out.

[edwardandtubs]

One thing i will NOT miss about Carrefour in Pattaya is the bloody annoying jingles constantly blaring out.

I'll be glad to see the end of that degrading Carrefour dance they made their staff do every day.

[swerver]

Big C is still Big C regardless of the name on the building. The selections are already changing and shows no signs of letting up. I want my CA FOO! Time to shop at Villa and Foodland I suppose.

Maybe so, but I was in the Pattaya Carrefour/Big C Extra store last week, and many of the cheese and butter products are/have been replaced by French products branded Casino. Which I believe is the parent company of Big C. Same same but different!

Groupe CASINO owns Big C ,its a huge retail company in France and usually not bad quality compare with some other brand names. The product under Casino will be equal to those offered from Carrefour as usually it comes from the same producers.

Same Producers, YES

These same producers when squeezed will produce LOWER QUALITY. Not under their own Producer Name, but under House Brand Names.

Casino was here before in Thailand in Seri Center (I think this name Seri Center now has changed) they were located were HomePro is now located in Seri Center.

[fiercesnake]

What so many modern people are being duped about is the need to buy nearly all our essentials from a supermarket. It's a wise move by marketers over a long sustained period of cultural and social indoctrination.

The bottom line is human societies have survived perfectly well for many years WITHOUT the need for huge corporations driving economies. For Bangkokians, try plain old local markets, like Klong Toey or Samrong and watch the reduction in your overall food bill and increase in your own personal health. Seriously do we REALLY NEED to be eating such highly processed foods anyway to the degree most "rich" people do???

Go back to the basics and the need for discussion about what mega corporation is taking over some other multi-national will pale into obscurity as will discussions on obesity, heart disease, stroke, cancer, the lack of competition due to small operators wiped out by mega corporations and many other associated problems.

See the documentaries; "Food Inc", The Corporation or You Tube's "The Story of Stuff".

[RigPig]

What so many modern people are being duped about is the need to buy nearly all our essentials from a supermarket. It's a wise move by marketers over a long sustained period of cultural and social indoctrination.

The bottom line is human societies have survived perfectly well for many years WITHOUT the need for huge corporations driving economies. For Bangkokians, try plain old local markets, like Klong Toey or Samrong and watch the reduction in your overall food bill and increase in your own personal health. Seriously do we REALLY NEED to be eating such highly processed foods anyway to the degree most "rich" people do???

Go back to the basics and the need for discussion about what mega corporation is taking over some other multi-national will pale into obscurity as will discussions on obesity, heart disease, stroke, cancer, the lack of competition due to small operators wiped out by mega corporations and many other associated problems.

See the documentaries; "Food Inc", The Corporation or You Tube's "The Story of Stuff".

I agree the guy selling what I think is pork standing in the sun does a great job of keeping most of the flies off using that stick with a plastic bag tied on the end ! I just love the weeds from Isaan and the ants in a bag do go down well wit a handful of fried crickets and sun baked eggs in the shell

However at least the feeling they might use such things as refrigeration and they have things I recognise will probably make me keep going to supermarkets. The only real price I can remember is $10 for a jar of Pickled Onions at Villa which is ridiculous no matter how rare they are over here.

The rest is all irrelevant as I have better things to do with my time than try to save 1000 baht a week and probably spend more in doing so.

[jackr]

There's 3 kinds of shoppers. Type 1, the largest group, will take their flyers, sales ads put out by the markets, go to get the savings, and once inside the market, will buy other items, which are at regular price, and in some cases marked up to compensate for the on sale items. Retailers know this flaw in shoppers. Bait them in, and they will spend more. It is profitable.

Type 2 shopper, more self disciplined, will go in with sales ads, and buy only the sales items they need. The problem with this group is, they will go to 2, 3 or more large markets buying the on sale items they need, which defeats the purpose due to the fuel expended, or public transportation money spent going to each market. Not to mention the old adage "time is money", how much is the shoppers time worth to them?

Type 3 shopper, the smallest group, don't look at saving on the individual item prices, but look at volume. One trip shopping for a month or more, saves in itself on time and fuel.

Well I'm not in any of your categories. Don't care for sales ads or buying in bulk. Give me choice, quality and the ability to shop and check-out in minutes every time. My time is more important than saving a few baht as is also being in a place that feels good rather than some of these cheap warehouses full of folk who can't help bumping into you and have that deer-in-the-headlights look. Is that you?

[jfchandler]

I have three farang friendly supermarkets within walking distance of my home... I have no large fresh Thai market within walking distance of my home...

Plus, last time I checked, the closest fresh Thai market wasn't doing to well in stocking tortillas, pinto beans, salsa, cheddar cheese, hamburger buns, dijon mustard (or any mustard for that matter), pickles, soba noodles, wasabi, etc etc.... The list (and the beat) goes on....

[Markaew]

I was in Carrefour for the first time in years the other day. Instantly noticed everything was at least 30% more expensive for the same items as Tops, MaxValue and Foodland. Will not be returning.

First time in years....30% more expensive....Do I smell a bit of bias? Maybe an ex-employee?

[oMega69]

Foodland is the only way to Go !

[bikerjoy]

I PREFER TO SHOP IN RIMPING CHIANG MAI NOW!

Big C is still Big C regardless of the name on the building. The selections are already changing and shows no signs of letting up. I want my CA FOO! Time to shop at Villa and Foodland I suppose.

Maybe so, but I was in the Pattaya Carrefour/Big C Extra store last week, and many of the cheese and butter products are/have been replaced by French products branded Casino. Which I believe is the parent company of Big C. Same same but different!

Groupe CASINO owns Big C ,its a huge retail company in France and usually not bad quality compare with some other brand names. The product under Casino will be equal to those offered from Carrefour as usually it comes from the same producers.

[lounger]

Dash! I was expecting them to rename the new stores "C4" with the slogan: "Get more bang for your Buck!".

R21

Good one Route!

If they had, I would cut up my Tesco card and shop at C4 exclusively.

hey Tex that comment same same....

[lounger]

Foodland is the only way to Go !

you must be going native. Quality stuff Choice has fallen away. cant get decent butter or jams, smoked fish etc any more. Try getting sea salt anywhere...( actually guess which carries it of emporium siam paragon wella tops foodland)

wella

[jfchandler]

I see sea salt, one brand or another, pretty regularly at Villa...sometimes at Tops, usually at Siam Paragon, Emporium and Central Food Hall Chidlom...

[laolover]

I have three farang friendly supermarkets within walking distance of my home... I have no large fresh Thai market within walking distance of my home...

Plus, last time I checked, the closest fresh Thai market wasn't doing to well in stocking tortillas, pinto beans, salsa, cheddar cheese, hamburger buns, dijon mustard (or any mustard for that matter), pickles, soba noodles, wasabi, etc etc.... The list (and the beat) goes on....

Yes lets make all of thailand like Patong, Pattaya, or Sukhumvit! Of course this is the real Thailand! Thai markets such as Ot ta Kor, Bobay etc are just fo the ignorant and backward....oh my gosh what has become to the Thailand I have known and loved for 25+ years here!

Tex mex is great in el paso. Soba is splendid in ginza!

[jfchandler]

I have three farang friendly supermarkets within walking distance of my home... I have no large fresh Thai market within walking distance of my home...

Plus, last time I checked, the closest fresh Thai market wasn't doing to well in stocking tortillas, pinto beans, salsa, cheddar cheese, hamburger buns, dijon mustard (or any mustard for that matter), pickles, soba noodles, wasabi, etc etc.... The list (and the beat) goes on....

Yes lets make all of thailand like Patong, Pattaya, or Sukhumvit! Of course this is the real Thailand! Thai markets such as Ot ta Kor, Bobay etc are just fo the ignorant and backward....oh my gosh what has become to the Thailand I have known and loved for 25+ years here!

Tex mex is great in el paso. Soba is splendid in ginza!

Thanks for throwing in an utterly silly comment for your 5th post....

I didn't advocate any of what you suggest above or disparage Thai markets or their customers.... I did, however, point out that Thai fresh markets don't stock most of the non-thai, farang-oriented things that many of us like to buy/eat apart from the Thai food we regularly eat... And that's just a fact.... not a complaint... just a fact...

And BTW, TexMex and soba are good anywhere....provided you have a place to buy them.... I don't want to eat Thai food 100% of the time, just like I don't want to eat any other single style food 100% of the time. The pleasure of eating comes in diversity... And the fact is, the farang supermarkets offer more of that diversity....

Edited May 16, 2011 by jfchandler

[Pib]

Good that someone can still afford to shop at Villaaaa!

There's a myth still being passed on I see.

Villa is very reasonable compared to any other store if you are comparing apples and oranges of course.

Have shopped there almost from day one in Thailand and was thrilled when the next Pure Place branch opened.

When comparing apples to apples and oranges to oranges between the Foodland I regularly shop at and the Villa I go to occasionally for items I can't get a Foodland, Foodland is cheaper and they very periodically have good promotions like Buy One, Get One Free. When comparing the Foodland and Villa I shop at over here in western Bangkok, Foodland is the clear winner. Buy other people's experience may vary since all Foodlands, Villas, etc., are not created equal/carry the same merchandise....some are better than others.

[jfchandler]

Pib, between the two, that's been my experience exactly also.... Foodland usually has better prices, but Villa stocks some western items that Foodland doesn't.

And at least for the stores around my home, Foodland seems to have a much fresher and broader produce section as well as much better prices on fresh meats.... Foodland also has the advantage of their own bakery shops, whereas Villa just stocks shelf bakery items.

I'm not sure why, but lately, at least for the Villas around me, their fresh produce sections seem to be pretty sparse.... They may be trying to economize by limiting their out of date produce losses.

[ozzieovaseas]

Good that someone can still afford to shop at Villaaaa!

There's a myth still being passed on I see.

Villa is very reasonable compared to any other store if you are comparing apples and oranges of course.

Have shopped there almost from day one in Thailand and was thrilled when the next Pure Place branch opened.

Tesco for me, simple -potatoes 33 per kilo...Big C 78 per kilo. Chicken and pork at Big C has increased 40% in the last 6 months....must be global warming,, or the.. Cambodia prob...Oh I forgot it's low season...oh no they are trying to get the money back that they paid out for the up market company. Me I would have kept the Carrefour name and got rid of the Big C name.

I also think that would have made better business sense.

They might have picked up a few unsuspecting customers disenchanted/bored with the usual Big C format, whilest having a better chance at keeping the Carrefour regulars. I guess there may have been legal issues which would of prevented them using the Carrefour name though.

So what will happen to those Carrefour stores that were situated very close to a Big C?

Surely having another premises nearby will not really give them much more earning capacity?..just serve to make operating costs much higher and therefor higher prices to the consumer to compensate??

I guess no different to firms like Woolworths in Australia, who will go to any methods to eliminate competition.

[ozzieovaseas]

Pib, between the two, that's been my experience exactly also.... Foodland usually has better prices, but Villa stocks some western items that Foodland doesn't.

And at least for the stores around my home, Foodland seems to have a much fresher and broader produce section as well as much better prices on fresh meats.... Foodland also has the advantage of their own bakery shops, whereas Villa just stocks shelf bakery items.

I'm not sure why, but lately, at least for the Villas around me, their fresh produce sections seem to be pretty sparse.... They may be trying to economize by limiting their out of date produce losses.

Yes Jf, i have also noticed this. And have you ever noticed the REALLY expensive imported meat they throw into the freezers after the fresh use-by dates have expired?

Usually New Zealand lamb with excess fat, roughly cut and so old its half freeze burnt.

I dont know who they think would pay those prices for frozen second rate stuff. They never seem to discount anything and to make it even worse they usually wait until its green before they freeze it

[Pib]

Pib, between the two, that's been my experience exactly also.... Foodland usually has better prices, but Villa stocks some western items that Foodland doesn't.

And at least for the stores around my home, Foodland seems to have a much fresher and broader produce section as well as much better prices on fresh meats.... Foodland also has the advantage of their own bakery shops, whereas Villa just stocks shelf bakery items.

I'm not sure why, but lately, at least for the Villas around me, their fresh produce sections seem to be pretty sparse.... They may be trying to economize by limiting their out of date produce losses.

JFC,

Big 10-4. And I should have also mentioned how the Foodland on Charansanitwong Road I shop at has a "meat/seafood/deli department that puts the Villa on Ratchapruek I use occasionally to shame. Since each store seems to be different in what and how much they carry....and since most of us shop at the one closest to us, each individual's experience will vary. Cheers.

Pib

[Heng]

Big C does indeed pale in comparison to the old Carrefour, but it's one of those things like 'never wear a runner up championship ring because you never know when someone with a REAL championship ring will walk into the room.'

[laolover]

I have three farang friendly supermarkets within walking distance of my home... I have no large fresh Thai market within walking distance of my home...

Plus, last time I checked, the closest fresh Thai market wasn't doing to well in stocking tortillas, pinto beans, salsa, cheddar cheese, hamburger buns, dijon mustard (or any mustard for that matter), pickles, soba noodles, wasabi, etc etc.... The list (and the beat) goes on....

Yes lets make all of thailand like Patong, Pattaya, or Sukhumvit! Of course this is the real Thailand! Thai markets such as Ot ta Kor, Bobay etc are just fo the ignorant and backward....oh my gosh what has become to the Thailand I have known and loved for 25+ years here!

Tex mex is great in el paso. Soba is splendid in ginza!

Thanks for throwing in an utterly silly comment for your 5th post....

I didn't advocate any of what you suggest above or disparage Thai markets or their customers.... I did, however, point out that Thai fresh markets don't stock most of the non-thai, farang-oriented things that many of us like to buy/eat apart from the Thai food we regularly eat... And that's just a fact.... not a complaint... just a fact...

And BTW, TexMex and soba are good anywhere....provided you have a place to buy them.... I don't want to eat Thai food 100% of the time, just like I don't want to eat any other single style food 100% of the time. The pleasure of eating comes in diversity... And the fact is, the farang supermarkets offer more of that diversity....

Yes, You are correct food diversity is a pleasure. Thank goodness living in the Kaset Newamin area we have access to many fine Thai markets and of course Foodland and Villa, Makro.Thai and farang consumers of western food are appreciated by my wife and myself as we prepare, package and wholesale several fresh refrigerated sauces to the aforementioned farang stores. I am only sad to see the small independent seller in the market being replaced by large corporate markets,and along with this a unique part of Thai tradition.. We also eat a wide variety of international food,but we do try to make extra effort to seek as many of the ingredients as possible from independent sellers. Apologies for not making this clear in the last posting. Bon Appetit! Keep up all the great posts (6000+)

[jfchandler]

Thanks for that reply...

IMHO, the issue of big box corporate supermarket chains vs. smaller, independent and fresh markets and suppliers is a legitimate one, but a different one from the issue of local Thai markets vs. the Foodlands and Villas and their more western offerings.

In Thailand, it's the Thai conglomerates like Central Retail and chains like Tesco that are the big boys... making farang-oriented chains like Villa and Foodland pale in comparison.

If the local Thai markets are facing competition, I'd think it's in losing or keeping Thai customers to the Tescos and mall places.

Westerners obviously are a minority presence in Thailand and in Bangkok, so the retailers that cater to them likewise are likely to remain a small factor in the bigger retailing scheme.

[DavidSL]

I have nothing very important to add, but I agree with those who say Foodland is the place to go. I'm constantly impressed by Foodland prices, and the constant stream of offers they have, week by week. I enjoy going for dinner there (excellent yellow curry!) and then on with the shopping.

But my weekly shop is at Tops. They have everything I need and then some. My girlfriend can get her Thai produce, and I can get my western foods, and we're pretty much sorted for the week. Between Tops and Foodland (both within driving distance of my home) we are covered. I've rarely shopped in a Big C store, and find them too big for my weekly shopping experience. Same with Carrefour - I was in the Srinakarin branch the other day and just found myself a bit lost - the layout is bizarre!

I like the idea of doing 2-3 months worth of shopping in one go, though my fridge couldn't handle it! I might start doing 'big shops' soon to stop those weekend trips to the supermarket, which do tend to break up the day!

[laolover]

Thanks for that reply...

IMHO, the issue of big box corporate supermarket chains vs. smaller, independent and fresh markets and suppliers is a legitimate one, but a different one from the issue of local Thai markets vs. the Foodlands and Villas and their more western offerings.

In Thailand, it's the Thai conglomerates like Central Retail and chains like Tesco that are the big boys... making farang-oriented chains like Villa and Foodland pale in comparison.

If the local Thai markets are facing competition, I'd think it's in losing or keeping Thai customers to the Tescos and mall places.

Westerners obviously are a minority presence in Thailand and in Bangkok, so the retailers that cater to them likewise are likely to remain a small factor in the bigger retailing scheme.

agreed. But of the large thai conglomerates mentioned, I believe you need to include CP. They control a large portion of food production and sales here and have a strong presence in China. The are the power behind the Thai Makro, all 7/11s and a GIANT presence in China Opening the largest mall (lotus) in Shanghai among uncountable other projects. CP is the lotus in tesco lotus.

C.P. Holding (BVI) Investment Company Limited. And yes of course it is the CP entities that have changed consumer shopping in Thailand. True corp media is CP (or at least CP is the major shareholder. (merged 2005) I wonder where Taksin fits into this if at all..... Any way I suspect there are many blogs that focus on these subjects and since this has little to due with CENTRAL'S big C and carrefour.... time to close.

[Jaivin2011]

Big C in Thailand and Big C elsewhere are very different. Big C in Thailand is majority owned by the same thai chinese that owned Central group and Tops Chain. It seems that there is no laws in thailand that the local thai chinese are controlling a monopoly of the retail and supermarket businesses and that other groups are not allowed to fairly participate in the country. At one time many locals were complianing about Tesco (though the CP group that controls 7/11s were the majoroty Thai partners) but now that the thai chinese group Central is controlling a lot of the local retail business, nothing is being done.