Have Tops discontinued stocking Waitrose own brand stuff?In particular their Tea which was IMO the best available in Thailand (in terms of British-style tea) and their cereals.They seem to have disappeared from the shelves around Chonburi.

It might just be an importation/distribution issue from the flooding?

Have you asked in Tops what the position is? Central Food Hall also used to stock them, give them a try. As lopburi says could be knock on from the foods, their tea is, as you say, probably the best you can get in Thailand. I always bring some back with me .

I certainly purchased some Waitrose items in my local Tops yesterday, and they had stacks in Central on Friday.

I certainly purchased some Waitrose items in my local Tops yesterday, and they had stacks in Central on Friday.

The world breaths a sigh of relief Put the kettle on!

Central Food Hall and Tops are part of the same company ( Central Food Retail).

Tops seemed to be more affected by the floods, in terms of empty shelves, than their larger rivals Lotus and BigC and even Villa Mart. Possibly, like 7-11, they lack back-of-store storage and rely on more frequent deliveries.

Tops do seem to be recovering now though.

Having said that I noticed something odd in BigC a week or so ago. I couldn't find any M-150 on the shelves, yet there were literally hundreds of M150 boxes on the high shelves. Every so often along the array of boxes there would be a laser-printed note taped to a box, it took me a few moments to decode it as กล่องเปล่า = glaawng^Lbplaao^L = Empty Box. I can see their trying to fill empty shelves with boxes to keep up appearances and avoid 'empty shelf syndrome', but it seems self-defeating to label them as empty. I suppose it keeps people from asking for M-150. There's a gap in the logic circle there somewhere...

Edited November 27, 201114 yr by phaethon

I noticed a lack of tea - following on from big discounts - before the floods. So I'm not sure - in fact the reason I asked was is that there are so many other possible factors.

I usually buy in TOPS at Central Chonburi, Sri Racha or Central Pattaya - so I cover quite a lot of their outlets....but I have failed to see the tea for some time.

Have I asked them? No - I just couldn't face the enuing confusion and the ultimate answer of "Yes, No, I not sure, cannot, ask at another officer"

Edited November 27, 201114 yr by cowslip