Carrefour -- Miss It At All?

[kibal]

I read previously that Carrefour had lots of special items, but I've only ever bought standard goods sold everywhere; also, I often noticed that Tesco was a good 5 baht cheaper or more on many items I need most, and has always run more sales. Now with it gone however, you really notice the drop down from three to two chains. In the past I needed to buy an extra large coffee mug on two different occasions, and Carrefour was the only place in town I could find what I wanted. Also bought a nicely priced handphone there one time, but that's about it. Carrefour to be missed, or not? What was good about it?

[bkkjames]

Mom used to say never cry over spilled milk....

[mrclough]

Baked beans! Carrefour had them all the time. Tesco? I don't think so! Big C? Big No!

Sometimes it's just the small things that you miss.

[PattayaParent]

Miss it.

Used to be able to do the week's shopping all in one place, have lunch and a beer. Now it's an extended trip between 2 or 3 places to get the necessary although at a push Makro offers most of what we need.

[gk10002000]

I just came back from Pattaya. While I don't shop much, I do like some variety. Big C is nice, but now Carre 4 is just the same thing. Same products. The Thai business model, in Pattaya anyway, is to only offer the same thing, in every store. I miss Carre 4

[lopburi3]

Carrefour did offer a few different items (if you could find/adjust to French logic for placement) but I had several negative experiences with more expensive items (from electric plug for Oz on one to missing items in another (both sealed packages)). But a third choice is always a plus. Note advertising seems to have been cut now we have less choice.

As for beans my local Big C has always had but only in small cans. Foodland is the best one source experience for normal food items (compact but many brands stocked) if available.

[ETatBKK]

Big C Extra to Big C Market, anyway boring standard stock.

Carrefour always find something interesting around the corner, and a touch of French quality control too.

miss it too . . .

[jamstock]

Big C Extra still stocks a lot of the French food (cheeses/ hams etc.) that Carrefour used to, so for me I haven't noticed a big difference.

[krading]

Never shopped there so I couldn't 'carree' less.

[manarak]

Big C Extra still stocks a lot of the French food (cheeses/ hams etc.) that Carrefour used to, so for me I haven't noticed a big difference.

Carrefour had their own distributor-brand, while BigC cooperates with Casino, therefore Big C Extra stocks Casino-brand products, which are more or less the same as Carrefour's.

[magpie3]

I remember when I frst went into Carrefour Minburi and saw Lurpak butter, fresh baked French style bread and baguettes and a selection of cheeses and and hams - all in one place!

This is a significant step forward I thought.

I'm pretty disappointed to see the one thing that binds those culinary delights together - the Lurpack butter - was downgraded first to the spreadable version and then it disappeared off the shelves completely a month or so ago.

Tesco Bang Phli also seem to have stopped selling it and my next port of call is Paradise shopping mall on Srinakarin Road where they were selling it at about 5 or 6 GBP per (small) portion when they opened.

Funny how some tastes or textures just can't be substituted.

There's a few butters/spreads that get close but still give a disappointing aftertaste.

What you were brought up with probably has a lot to do with taste preferences.

Still, it's not so bad. Sooooo much else to enjoy eh?!

[lonewolf99]

Carrefour French for Crossroads...shame most people who shop there cannot pronounce it correctly...a bit like Pattaya.....

they opened the first Hyperstore in Europe...

[janverbeem]

Yes Carrefour is missed,especially because it was taken over by Big C(rap).

The only thing that counts for this group is how do we sell at the lowest price but still at the highest profit.

Take a look at their fresh (?) food items.The fried chicken look like fried pigeons.

Also look at the stock,Big C still doesn't have coke zero,tuna in brine or water,sugar free soy milk etc. while Tesco has these restocked for more than a week now.Yes Carrefour is missed.

[lopburi3]

I remember when I frst went into Carrefour Minburi and saw Lurpak butter, fresh baked French style bread and baguettes and a selection of cheeses and and hams - all in one place!

This is a significant step forward I thought.

I'm pretty disappointed to see the one thing that binds those culinary delights together - the Lurpack butter - was downgraded first to the spreadable version and then it disappeared off the shelves completely a month or so ago.

Tesco Bang Phli also seem to have stopped selling it and my next port of call is Paradise shopping mall on Srinakarin Road where they were selling it at about 5 or 6 GBP per (small) portion when they opened.

Funny how some tastes or textures just can't be substituted.

There's a few butters/spreads that get close but still give a disappointing aftertaste.

What you were brought up with probably has a lot to do with taste preferences.

Still, it's not so bad. Sooooo much else to enjoy eh?!

Believe the Tesco Lotus below RamIntera expressway in Latphao had Lurpack for sale last week (but I was looking for Orchard which seems to have disappeared everywhere).

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=thailand&hl=en&ll=13.8042,100.619531&spn=0.027464,0.04961&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=45.601981,101.601563&vpsrc=6&hnear=Thailand&t=m&z=15

[Pib]

I miss the Carrefour here in western Bangkok the wife and I use to go to a lot. We have went back maybe 3 or 4 times since it changed to a Big C Extra and the store's selection of products continues to resemble more and more the products in a regular Big C and Lotus. I liked going to Carrefour because they had lots of products/brands that Big C and Lotus just didn't carry...now it's quickly turning into just another Big C with the Extra word thrown in the name to imply it's better than a regular Big C.

[Pseudolus]

Totally agree; I find the quality considerably worse in terms of selection. The food hall in Lad Prao seems to be worse as well. This has pushed me to be a Top Market shopper 100% , and have a fridge and cupboard full of Waitrose products. Miss C4, but loving my new venue - just not as convenient as the 10 minute walk down the road.

[REM]

Definitely agree. It seems quality meat/butter/cream cheese and salad dressing have all gone away. I used to love Carrefour, I could always find something new there to remind my tastbuds of home, but now I notice everything disappearing as well! I can't fing baked beans in a big can, Orchard butter is gone, they rarely have any other milk than Meiji, and getting cream cheese is a hit or miss. For two weeks now I haven't seen it at the Big C on Ratchada.

Carrefour will definitely be missed!

[lopburi3]

Believe some of the stock problems is more due to the floods than change of name. I know Orchard butter is not available anywhere now so that is a local issue (factory likely not operating?) and Scott toilet/towels are not available anywhere (and most others). That flooding has had a lot more impact that most people want to admit. And it came just after the store change.

One change I noticed was packaged meals (salads) were lower quality with some mayo in bag rather than packaged dressing (this before flooding so obvious cost cutting). Believe checkout service is better now (was short changed several times under old management and never more than one or two lines open).

[Kilgore Trout]

I haven't had any negative issues but I do enjoy their casino brand products.

[Pib]

No doubt continuing shortages caused by the flooding is part of it. I also wonder how well Big C followed through with its commitment to contract with the Carefour distrubution system if necessary to maintain the different variety of products that only Carrefour seem to carry.

[magpie3]

I remember when I frst went into Carrefour Minburi and saw Lurpak butter, fresh baked French style bread and baguettes and a selection of cheeses and and hams - all in one place!

This is a significant step forward I thought.

I'm pretty disappointed to see the one thing that binds those culinary delights together - the Lurpack butter - was downgraded first to the spreadable version and then it disappeared off the shelves completely a month or so ago.

Tesco Bang Phli also seem to have stopped selling it and my next port of call is Paradise shopping mall on Srinakarin Road where they were selling it at about 5 or 6 GBP per (small) portion when they opened.

Funny how some tastes or textures just can't be substituted.

There's a few butters/spreads that get close but still give a disappointing aftertaste.

What you were brought up with probably has a lot to do with taste preferences.

Still, it's not so bad. Sooooo much else to enjoy eh?!

Believe the Tesco Lotus below RamIntera expressway in Latphao had Lurpack for sale last week (but I was looking for Orchard which seems to have disappeared everywhere).

http://maps.google.c...ailand&t=m&z=15

Many Thanks for that and the map. I will endeavour to check it out but may have to stockpile a little as I am too mean to throw away the Flora Original I was persuaded to buy by my wife - Apparrently it stopped me whinging !

[Gers1873]

Carrefour targeted the middle class Thai market and carried a better product range than Tesco and BigC.... gone but not forgotten

[maxme]

I love their freshly baked bread. Dunno i think its much better than Big C's.