I've been gone for over 2-1/2 years, and the other day I got on the superhighway my old way, but when i turn into the parking lot, I notice it's a Big C and not Carrefour. Am I going Crazy? (That's a rhetorical question, as I already know I am:-)). Did Carrefour go out of business in Chiang Mai, or has it just moved somewhere else in the city?

I kind of preferred Carrefour over the likes of Tesco/Lotus and Big C, in my years of coming hear.

I appolgize if this has been coverred (probably has), just didn't see a particular thread on Carrefour in my search (just a random threads of people wanting to purchase particular items).

Sorry Craig, apparently you don't get out much. But you were gone so we'll forgive you.

Big C (Casino group of France) bought out all Carrefour stores in Thailand about a year ago.

The store you went to is a "Big C Extra" store.

If you go shop, you will find the same bakery, produce, meat dept, etc.

There are a lot of Casino products from France, replacing the Carrefour products from France, such as cheese, sausage, frozen pizzas, souffles, etc. It really hasn't changed that much.

Thank God in heaven above the bakery still produces the French Country Sourdough Loaf (a boule). My favorite bread available in CM.

Carrfour sold their business in Asia and pulled out, Big C outbid Tesco Lotus for the company, the branch in Pattaya has gone way downhill and avoided by many expats now.

Interesting! I hadn't followed the news that resulted in Big C taking over Carrefour's locations. What I have followed is my own anecdotal experience at the "new" Big C (across the street from Central World in Bangkok) that was rebuilt after the "situation" that occurred in that area a few years ago. To be clear, I give them a lot of respect for the investment.....and reinvestment they made in that location.

The new interior design, which is probably similar to whatever they've rolled out in Carrefour's locations, is what I take issue with. The "old" Big C used to be about value.....the "new" Big C (at least the produce section where I was looking) seems to be more about being "pretty" and "pricey".

At least for today.....Foodland's produce prices crush Big C's.

Just my personal observation after one visit, so I may have just caught them on a "pricey day".

CHEERS!

D

I'm not sure that I can agree that there is not a lot different about the new Big C+ and Carrefour, though certainly much remains the same. My specific concerns are related to parking (management has cannibalised parking for more shops - and they've closed off outside parking for motorbikes), selection (mustard choices much reduced, for example) and displays (central aisles generally devoted to inexpensive clothing for women and children).

In sum, Carrefour in France is more upscale than Casino, and thus the latter competes in SE Asia, whereas Carrefoo decided that it did not.

From my obsxervation after shopping at Big C Extra in Pattaya it is called extra because one pays precisely that... extra!