It’S Official, Carrefour Converted To Big-C

[thaibeachlovers]

The name changed, the people seems to be the same, the foreign products seems to be the same as before, except they are labeled Casino instead of Carrefour, but according to some sources in France, both come from the same suppliers.

I think you are right here, but there is still a BIG difference:

The products catalog of Carrefour was maybe twice the one of Big-C!

There were hundreds of products under the Carrefour label, mainly French products, that you will not find under Big-C/Casino label. It will be hard to now find them in Pattaya, or even impossible for some of them...

A big loss for many expat.

I agree fully with you.For those that think that the Carrefour products are replaced with the same ones branded Csino I have some questions

Do they have 5 different spagetti sauces included bolognaise and napolitane?

Do they have pure chocolate minimum 55 % cacao at 125 Baht for 400 gram?

Do they have a whole wheat meusli with chocolate flakes for children at 99 Baht for 750 grams?

Do they have frozen vegetables like spinach and brussels sprouts at economic prices?

Do they have whole wheat crunchy toasts?

This just out of my head right away but I'm sure other members can complete the list of popular things they are missing now to as much as 2 full pages

I hope no one reading TV is feeding children sugary meals. Too much sugar is a big reason why so many children are obese these days.

Obese children are at risk of diseases once adults like diabetes. Diabetes is responsible for many problems like blindness and loss of limbs.

[janverbeem]

The name changed, the people seems to be the same, the foreign products seems to be the same as before, except they are labeled Casino instead of Carrefour, but according to some sources in France, both come from the same suppliers.

I think you are right here, but there is still a BIG difference:

The products catalog of Carrefour was maybe twice the one of Big-C!

There were hundreds of products under the Carrefour label, mainly French products, that you will not find under Big-C/Casino label. It will be hard to now find them in Pattaya, or even impossible for some of them...

A big loss for many expat.

I agree fully with you.For those that think that the Carrefour products are replaced with the same ones branded Csino I have some questions

Do they have 5 different spagetti sauces included bolognaise and napolitane?

Do they have pure chocolate minimum 55 % cacao at 125 Baht for 400 gram?

Do they have a whole wheat meusli with chocolate flakes for children at 99 Baht for 750 grams?

Do they have frozen vegetables like spinach and brussels sprouts at economic prices?

Do they have whole wheat crunchy toasts?

This just out of my head right away but I'm sure other members can complete the list of popular things they are missing now to as much as 2 full pages

I hope no one reading TV is feeding children sugary meals. Too much sugar is a big reason why so many children are obese these days.

Obese children are at risk of diseases once adults like diabetes. Diabetes is responsible for many problems like blindness and loss of limbs.

Maybe you point me to the line in my post where it indicates sugary meals for children as I probably overrread it.

[redsquare]

Bit of a war going on behind the scenes. You will notice more brands disappearing from Big C. Their buyers are being very aggressive with suppliers and trying to get lowest possible prices as they try to cut costs to increase profits in order to pay for taking over Carrefour. For example, pretty soon you wont find Betagen yoghurt drink in Big C . On the other hand Tesco are in the process of adding over 2,500 new items to their stores and actually being very fair to suppliers for a change.

[Phil Conners]

Since someone mentioned Tesco-Lotus - anyone else noticed the smell in the meat area of the Tesco-Lotus on Sukhumvit recently?

[FarangBuddha]

Since someone mentioned Tesco-Lotus - anyone else noticed the smell in the meat area of the Tesco-Lotus on Sukhumvit recently?

Maybe saving money on the refrigeration

[janverbeem]

I see the delicious "Carrefour" branded butter has been removed

Lord B.....

So the similarly delicious Casino butter ( same weight, same price) was out of stock?

Both are/were good cultured butter. You did know they both are cultured ( same pro-biotics as yoghurt) didn't you?

I have to admit that Casino stocks a pretty good selection of french cheeses at prices Carrefour couldn't even come close to.Two kinds of Camenbert 250 gram at 169 and 199 Baht,some kinds of spreadable cheese with herbs at about 80 Baht for 125 grams and which are delicious.

CORRECTION : Don't buy those cheeses, they are the biggest crap I've ever seen...........Pfhh,just in time to avoid price rises due to the demand these products will create in the next few days.

[Replogle]

Did anyone notice the sloppy paint job they did all over the sides of their register counters? None of it was masked properly. Some green splattered on the sides of their little keyboards and areas where bags are placed. A quick 'n dirty job for sure.

[PattayaParent]

I see the delicious "Carrefour" branded butter has been removed

Lord B.....

So the similarly delicious Casino butter ( same weight, same price) was out of stock?

Both are/were good cultured butter. You did know they both are cultured ( same pro-biotics as yoghurt) didn't you?

I have to admit that Casino stocks a pretty good selection of french cheeses at prices Carrefour couldn't even come close to.Two kinds of Camenbert 250 gram at 169 and 199 Baht,some kinds of spreadable cheese with herbs at about 80 Baht for 125 grams and which are delicious.

CORRECTION : Don't buy those cheeses, they are the biggest crap I've ever seen...........Pfhh,just in time to avoid price rises due to the demand these products will create in the next few days.

I noticed the improved selection of cheeses today, but the missus reports the meat and fish are not good quality now compared to Carrefour.

[raro]

the meat and fish are not good quality now compared to Carrefour.

didn't buy the meat for years....just too iffy. The fish was just at the "just ok" level... for anything like that, Foodland is just up the road!

[thaibeachlovers]

I agree fully with you.For those that think that the Carrefour products are replaced with the same ones branded Csino I have some questions

Do they have 5 different spagetti sauces included bolognaise and napolitane?

Do they have pure chocolate minimum 55 % cacao at 125 Baht for 400 gram?

Do they have a whole wheat meusli with chocolate flakes for children at 99 Baht for 750 grams?

Do they have frozen vegetables like spinach and brussels sprouts at economic prices?

Do they have whole wheat crunchy toasts?

This just out of my head right away but I'm sure other members can complete the list of popular things they are missing now to as much as 2 full pages

I hope no one reading TV is feeding children sugary meals. Too much sugar is a big reason why so many children are obese these days.

Obese children are at risk of diseases once adults like diabetes. Diabetes is responsible for many problems like blindness and loss of limbs.

Maybe you point me to the line in my post where it indicates sugary meals for children as I probably overrread it.

whole wheat meusli with chocolate flakes for children

Though I'm not pointing the finger at anyone in particular, just making a general observation.

See so many obese Thai children theses days- so sad as their future is one of health problems..

[timekeeper]

i have been going to Carrefour every saturday since it opened

i went yesterday, bought exactly the same things i buy every week and didn't see any discernable difference except for the ghastly colour ............

[THAILIBAN]

Personally ,i didnt rate Carrfour and rate Big C even less ,Tesco are the best of a bad bunch as far as the big boys go ,Friendship ect are much better.

you must be kidding.

TESCO is the most pathetic of all. shops disorganized, dirty, clueless indifferent staff (ok, at BIG C that's not much different. Good luck getting a shopping-cart at the Tesco near my home (Tesco Bangkapi). in 4 out of 5 cases there are no carts available, and it takes ages for the staff to collect the carts from anywhere in the building of the mall. to get a shopping-cart on sunday afternoon is virtually impossible.

the food products (fruit ! Meat ! bread !), both variety and quality, are much inferior than at any Carrefour. The bakery at TESCO is pathetic to almost non-existent, except for some chewing-gum like bread.

the only section were Tesco was always ahead of Carrefour was the non-food-section, particularly Textile goods.

I don't think that any non-British-Expat would rate TESCO higher than Carrefour. I assume the British folks liked it more because they are used to it, it's their home-grown chain after all.

Sad to see Carrefour go indeed, it was a gift from heaven here in Thailand. Thanks god Big C has improved a lot during the past 3-4 years, hope they continue that way. AMEN

[Atmos]

I am assuming most of the above 42 posts are from males.

Am I alone in finding some humour in you all whining about supermarket services like a bunch of old women?

Are you all single/unattached?

Breaking down the gender barrier and traditional roles of women doing the shopping?

Why do you spend so much time shopping, then analysing this shopping?

In its way - sad.

[timekeeper]

I am assuming most of the above 42 posts are from males.

Am I alone in finding some humour in you all whining about supermarket services like a bunch of old women?

Are you all single/unattached?

Breaking down the gender barrier and traditional roles of women doing the shopping?

Why do you spend so much time shopping, then analysing this shopping?

In its way - sad.

simple answer, i pay............

[koiwaolao]

Typically Thai mentality: Big C brand fruit juices cost 49 at the recently integrated Big C/Carrefour but cost 42 at Big C stores Tai and Nua!!! It seems they now adapt the mentality that Carrefour is mainly farang patronised and thus they can flog Big C goodies there for marked up prices

[THAILIBAN]

I am assuming most of the above 42 posts are from males.

Am I alone in finding some humour in you all whining about supermarket services like a bunch of old women?

Are you all single/unattached?

Breaking down the gender barrier and traditional roles of women doing the shopping?

Why do you spend so much time shopping, then analysing this shopping?

because I want to EAT well and have nice things in my fridge

EATING is - particularly in Thailand - part of the culture and lifestyle, in case u still didn't realize that

maybe you prefer to get you daily food at McDonalds, whereas I don't

[fredob43]

I see the delicious "Carrefour" branded butter has been removed

Lord B.....

So the similarly delicious Casino butter ( same weight, same price) was out of stock?

Both are/were good cultured butter. You did know they both are cultured ( same pro-biotics as yoghurt) didn't you?

I have to admit that Casino stocks a pretty good selection of french cheeses at prices Carrefour couldn't even come close to.Two kinds of Camenbert 250 gram at 169 and 199 Baht,some kinds of spreadable cheese with herbs at about 80 Baht for 125 grams and which are delicious.

CORRECTION : Don't buy those cheeses, they are the biggest crap I've ever seen...........Pfhh,just in time to avoid price rises due to the demand these products will create in the next few days.

I second that have just got some of the 199 Camembert Le Rural 250g and it's very Delish. Oh no I mean rubbish. And there Casino Pointe de Brie at 99bt for 200 g I think also very good/Not nice.

[Atmos]

because I want to EAT well and have nice things in my fridge

EATING is - particularly in Thailand - part of the culture and lifestyle, in case u still didn't realize that

maybe you prefer to get you daily food at McDonalds, whereas I don't

Very simply - my partner does the shopping; she takes a shopping list.

I have no interest in spending my time shopping. We buy at least 90% of our food locally, there is rarely a need to travel to a supermarket.

McDonalds? Never; and i don't think there is one in Chanthaburi province

Note: I have been to the Tesco-Lotus here - they had good deals on big-screen televisions and refrigerators, better than any of the appliance stores.

[PattayaParent]

Personally ,i didnt rate Carrfour and rate Big C even less ,Tesco are the best of a bad bunch as far as the big boys go ,Friendship ect are much better.

you must be kidding.

TESCO is the most pathetic of all. shops disorganized, dirty, clueless indifferent staff (ok, at BIG C that's not much different. Good luck getting a shopping-cart at the Tesco near my home (Tesco Bangkapi). in 4 out of 5 cases there are no carts available, and it takes ages for the staff to collect the carts from anywhere in the building of the mall. to get a shopping-cart on sunday afternoon is virtually impossible.

the food products (fruit ! Meat ! bread !), both variety and quality, are much inferior than at any Carrefour. The bakery at TESCO is pathetic to almost non-existent, except for some chewing-gum like bread.

the only section were Tesco was always ahead of Carrefour was the non-food-section, particularly Textile goods.

I don't think that any non-British-Expat would rate TESCO higher than Carrefour. I assume the British folks liked it more because they are used to it, it's their home-grown chain after all.

Sad to see Carrefour go indeed, it was a gift from heaven here in Thailand. Thanks god Big C has improved a lot during the past 3-4 years, hope they continue that way. AMEN

I'm a Brit that rates Carrefour much higher than Tesco and am sad to see the change to Big C, we'll be shopping mostly in Makro now which is more convenient to get to anyway (and still drive past Tesco and Big C to get there)

Tesco is good for kids clothes 'cos they're cheap as the kids grow out of them after a few months anyway.

[moo9]

I would support any branch, shop which could supply me good quality French, Swiss, Italian, German cheese at reasonable prices!!! Am I demanding too much? Sigh....

[timekeeper]

I would support any branch, shop which could supply me good quality French, Swiss, Italian, German cheese at reasonable prices!!! Am I demanding too much? Sigh....

have you looked at the cheese selection in the basement of Central festival centre?

[PattayaParent]

I would support any branch, shop which could supply me good quality French, Swiss, Italian, German cheese at reasonable prices!!! Am I demanding too much? Sigh....

There's not a bad selection of cheeses in Makro, although for some reaason they price them excluding VAT?

And Carrefour has a great selection of cheeses.

Don't know what you'd consider reasonable pricing though.

[tropo]

If you look carefully, you will note that the Pattaya Carrefour has been re-branded as "Big C Extra."

LOL. You don't have to look carefully. There are 3 huge green BIG C EXTRA signs outside the building.

[bkkjai]

After being loyal Carrefour shoppers for going on seven years, we've stopped shopping at Big C Extra as the quality of food they sell is terrible.

Try finding fresh fruit or vegetables, even at Big C Extra - just about impossible. Plus, it's not just the farangs who aren't shopping there. At the one where I used to shop, it's noticeably much more dead than it was even a month ago.

The last time I was there, I was on my cell phone in the middle of the veggie department complaining to a friend about the disgusting quality of Big C vegetables. A Thai woman overheard me and stopped to say "You're absolutely correct. None of my friends shop here anymore and today will be my last visit".

Since Big C took over Carrefour in Thailand, prices are higher, quality is lower and at least 30% of the stuff I used to buy is no longer sold there.

I now split my shopping between Tesco (which I hate, but at least their prices are cheap and they have a good selection of packaged food), Foodland and my local bi-weekly vegetable market - with the occasional visit to Gourmet Market at Siam.

You couldn't PAY me to set foot in Big C again. They've taken a wonderful supermarket (Carrefour) and turned it into one of the worst supermarket chains in Thailand in less than three months. Takes talent, that.

And who the HELL told Big C that a bright, fluorescent GREEN was attractive. It's NASTY!!!

[FarangBuddha]

After being loyal Carrefour shoppers for going on seven years, we've stopped shopping at Big C Extra as the quality of food they sell is terrible.

Try finding fresh fruit or vegetables, even at Big C Extra - just about impossible. Plus, it's not just the farangs who aren't shopping there. At the one where I used to shop, it's noticeably much more dead than it was even a month ago.

The last time I was there, I was on my cell phone in the middle of the veggie department complaining to a friend about the disgusting quality of Big C vegetables. A Thai woman overheard me and stopped to say "You're absolutely correct. None of my friends shop here anymore and today will be my last visit".

Since Big C took over Carrefour in Thailand, prices are higher, quality is lower and at least 30% of the stuff I used to buy is no longer sold there.

I now split my shopping between Tesco (which I hate, but at least their prices are cheap and they have a good selection of packaged food), Foodland and my local bi-weekly vegetable market - with the occasional visit to Gourmet Market at Siam.

You couldn't PAY me to set foot in Big C again. They've taken a wonderful supermarket (Carrefour) and turned it into one of the worst supermarket chains in Thailand in less than three months. Takes talent, that.

And who the HELL told Big C that a bright, fluorescent GREEN was attractive. It's NASTY!!!

I haven't noticed big changes to the Pattaya Carrefour/Big C Extra as yet as the stuff I buy there is still the same, e.g., bread. However, time will tell.

[tropo]

After being loyal Carrefour shoppers for going on seven years, we've stopped shopping at Big C Extra as the quality of food they sell is terrible.

Try finding fresh fruit or vegetables, even at Big C Extra - just about impossible. Plus, it's not just the farangs who aren't shopping there. At the one where I used to shop, it's noticeably much more dead than it was even a month ago.

The last time I was there, I was on my cell phone in the middle of the veggie department complaining to a friend about the disgusting quality of Big C vegetables. A Thai woman overheard me and stopped to say "You're absolutely correct. None of my friends shop here anymore and today will be my last visit".

Since Big C took over Carrefour in Thailand, prices are higher, quality is lower and at least 30% of the stuff I used to buy is no longer sold there.

I now split my shopping between Tesco (which I hate, but at least their prices are cheap and they have a good selection of packaged food), Foodland and my local bi-weekly vegetable market - with the occasional visit to Gourmet Market at Siam.

You couldn't PAY me to set foot in Big C again. They've taken a wonderful supermarket (Carrefour) and turned it into one of the worst supermarket chains in Thailand in less than three months. Takes talent, that.

And who the HELL told Big C that a bright, fluorescent GREEN was attractive. It's NASTY!!!

I haven't noticed big changes to the Pattaya Carrefour/Big C Extra as yet as the stuff I buy there is still the same, e.g., bread. However, time will tell.

It looks to me to be steadily getting worse. Here's some things I've noticed:

1. The fresh fish selection is a about half of what it used to be. The smaller specialty fish are gone.

2. The fruit and vegetable section is starting to look very rough with less selection and poor quality.

3. Price marking is dismal. It's quite a job finding prices on half the items in there.

4. The cooked food section has nearly stopped labeling anything in English.

5. Staff attitude has gone downhill since Carrefour days, and that's saying something because Carrefour staff weren't the friendliest.

Anyone agree?

[FarangBuddha]

After being loyal Carrefour shoppers for going on seven years, we've stopped shopping at Big C Extra as the quality of food they sell is terrible.

Try finding fresh fruit or vegetables, even at Big C Extra - just about impossible. Plus, it's not just the farangs who aren't shopping there. At the one where I used to shop, it's noticeably much more dead than it was even a month ago.

The last time I was there, I was on my cell phone in the middle of the veggie department complaining to a friend about the disgusting quality of Big C vegetables. A Thai woman overheard me and stopped to say "You're absolutely correct. None of my friends shop here anymore and today will be my last visit".

Since Big C took over Carrefour in Thailand, prices are higher, quality is lower and at least 30% of the stuff I used to buy is no longer sold there.

I now split my shopping between Tesco (which I hate, but at least their prices are cheap and they have a good selection of packaged food), Foodland and my local bi-weekly vegetable market - with the occasional visit to Gourmet Market at Siam.

You couldn't PAY me to set foot in Big C again. They've taken a wonderful supermarket (Carrefour) and turned it into one of the worst supermarket chains in Thailand in less than three months. Takes talent, that.

And who the HELL told Big C that a bright, fluorescent GREEN was attractive. It's NASTY!!!

I haven't noticed big changes to the Pattaya Carrefour/Big C Extra as yet as the stuff I buy there is still the same, e.g., bread. However, time will tell.

It looks to me to be steadily getting worse. Here's some things I've noticed:

1. The fresh fish selection is a about half of what it used to be. The smaller specialty fish are gone.

2. The fruit and vegetable section is starting to look very rough with less selection and poor quality.

3. Price marking is dismal. It's quite a job finding prices on half the items in there.

4. The cooked food section has nearly stopped labeling anything in English.

5. Staff attitude has gone downhill since Carrefour days, and that's saying something because Carrefour staff weren't the friendliest.

Anyone agree?

You are a more keen-eyed observer than I am

However, I guess it's basically that Big-C and Big-C Extra are basically Thai companies focused on serving the Thai market. As such, they focus more on price than quality as that's most important to most Thai consumers. I would surmise that if there was a large market for quality goods at reasonable (rather than poor-quality at cheap) then C-F would have made a go of it.

[tropo]

You are a more keen-eyed observer than I am

However, I guess it's basically that Big-C and Big-C Extra are basically Thai companies focused on serving the Thai market. As such, they focus more on price than quality as that's most important to most Thai consumers. I would surmise that if there was a large market for quality goods at reasonable (rather than poor-quality at cheap) then C-F would have made a go of it.

I'm not saying Carrefour was anything amazing, but I certainly never shopped at any Big-C because they are horrible supermarkets with prices no better than the rest.

When they first took over we thought maybe this one would be different, but sadly it doesn't look that way now.

[janverbeem]

After being loyal Carrefour shoppers for going on seven years, we've stopped shopping at Big C Extra as the quality of food they sell is terrible.

Try finding fresh fruit or vegetables, even at Big C Extra - just about impossible. Plus, it's not just the farangs who aren't shopping there. At the one where I used to shop, it's noticeably much more dead than it was even a month ago.

The last time I was there, I was on my cell phone in the middle of the veggie department complaining to a friend about the disgusting quality of Big C vegetables. A Thai woman overheard me and stopped to say "You're absolutely correct. None of my friends shop here anymore and today will be my last visit".

Since Big C took over Carrefour in Thailand, prices are higher, quality is lower and at least 30% of the stuff I used to buy is no longer sold there.

I now split my shopping between Tesco (which I hate, but at least their prices are cheap and they have a good selection of packaged food), Foodland and my local bi-weekly vegetable market - with the occasional visit to Gourmet Market at Siam.

You couldn't PAY me to set foot in Big C again. They've taken a wonderful supermarket (Carrefour) and turned it into one of the worst supermarket chains in Thailand in less than three months. Takes talent, that.

And who the HELL told Big C that a bright, fluorescent GREEN was attractive. It's NASTY!!!

I haven't noticed big changes to the Pattaya Carrefour/Big C Extra as yet as the stuff I buy there is still the same, e.g., bread. However, time will tell.

It looks to me to be steadily getting worse. Here's some things I've noticed:

1. The fresh fish selection is a about half of what it used to be. The smaller specialty fish are gone.

2. The fruit and vegetable section is starting to look very rough with less selection and poor quality.

3. Price marking is dismal. It's quite a job finding prices on half the items in there.

4. The cooked food section has nearly stopped labeling anything in English.

5. Staff attitude has gone downhill since Carrefour days, and that's saying something because Carrefour staff weren't the friendliest.

Anyone agree?

I think this is the first time in forum history,but I have to agree with you on all points.However I would like to add that you probably forgot to mention that the shopping baskets haven't been cleaned since the take over.I have walked out once already because there was not one basket the I wasn't scared to put food into.

[tropo]

I think this is the first time in forum history,

but I have to agree with you on all points.However I would like to add that you probably forgot to mention that the shopping baskets haven't been cleaned since the take over.I have walked out once already because there was not one basket the I wasn't scared to put food into.

The first time anyone has agreed, or you since you joined this year?

I only mentioned things I was aware of. I haven't had a problem with dirty shopping baskets yet as I normally use trolleys - if I can find one.