Tesco Lotus Is Building An Empire In Thailand

[khunken]

I don't know why Tesco & Big C are criticised for affecting small shops because it's just not true.

The real competition for the small grocery-type shops is 7-11 & Family Market. I've seen a number go out of business only to be replaced by these large chains of small stores.

Price is indeed what it's all about & if only my local Tesco & Big C could sort out their continuous out-of-stock items, they'd be even better.

[kiniyow]

I get Bua with Tesco~~~When is Walmart coming?

[PaullyW]

Someone has to big up Tesco. They have been having a shocker the last year or so, and are about to exit their escapade in the USA.

Yeah, strange thing for them to think they could bring anything new to the US. US has all kinds of wonderful super and mega markets, and, in fact, invented them and the modern commercialisation of food. UK has nothing like Wholefoods Market, Trader Joes etc. US also has better values on many foods including imported luxury foods as the middle class is large, import taxes are reasonable and the large market provides some economies of scale. All these things are not true in the UK as it's a small country...

[surangw]

careful, some jealous thais may chuck a bomb into the store

[55Jay]

careful, some jealous thais may chuck a bomb into the store

I actually wondered about that re: the Tesco mini that opened in my humble berg.

The cops, ok cop (as in 1) can't be arsed around here for much, so Tesco mini burned to the ground would be an unsolved mystery

[yoshiwara]

I see all the usual anti-business nuts have been let out today.

[NoshowJones]

Someone has to big up Tesco. They have been having a shocker the last year or so, and are about to exit their escapade in the USA.

Yes, Tescos are appalling, a new Tesco Express opened in my village a year ago, the service is dreadful, short changed, charged more expensive for articles than the price on the ticket,for the last two weeks no spoons to supply with the yogurt, they offered me a fork and large spoon instead, only one checkout open when people are waiting to get served, the list goes on.

[NoshowJones]

I stopped going to Tesco because of the rude people working there.

Only Big C, Villa Market, and Foodland.

Don't care it's an April fools joke.

A new large Tesco department store has just opened in the nearest city to where I live. It took me ages trying to find it when I went into the mall, no sign posting, after I eventually did find it, the sign for the toilet pointed in the opposite direction from where the it actually was.

[NoshowJones]

They should bring with it the great British heritage 'Fish & Chip' shop in every branch. Tired of the yankee MacDonalds

Can you imagine what the cost would be for the fish? It would need to be imported, cod, haddock etc.

[NoshowJones]

careful, some jealous thais may chuck a bomb into the store

I could say something here, but I would get another suspension.

[khaowong1]

Someone has to big up Tesco. They have been having a shocker the last year or so, and are about to exit their escapade in the USA.

I didn't know they were in the USA.. where?

[khaowong1]

They should bring with it the great British heritage 'Fish & Chip' shop in every branch. Tired of the yankee MacDonalds

The MacDonalds you eat at in Thailand, tastes absolutely like nothing served in the MacDonalds in the US. The Thai McD's are crap. How can anyone screw up a hamburger? Well, they do.

[phutoie2]

FamilyMart and Siam/Makro, big expansion this year, many of the smaller express type stores opening throughout Thailand. They want some of Tesco's pie.

[trainman34014]

They should bring with it the great British heritage 'Fish & Chip' shop in every branch. Tired of the yankee MacDonalds

The MacDonalds you eat at in Thailand, tastes absolutely like nothing served in the MacDonalds in the US. The Thai McD's are crap. How can anyone screw up a hamburger? Well, they do.

ALL McD's are crap worldwide. Steer clear of them and others like them if you want to live a long and healthy life !

[Traveling Sailor]

Where I live there is only Tesco. No Big C, etc. The price I pay at checkout is always more than the sum of the items I pick off the shelf, as stated on the shelf. The same apple that sells for 10 baht at the local market sells for 26 baht at Tesco. The only reason I shop there is because some things I want are not available elsewhere unless I want to drive for 45 minutes.

[aussiebebe]

Did anyone read the most interesting part of the newspaper article?

The company will officially launch its online business in Bangkok this week with orders picked from a specially selected existing store. Tesco eventually hopes to roll out the online business across the country.

That's amazing, I have to hand it to Tesco to be the first to do this in Thailand. Seeing as the convenience of Amazon is sorely missed over here, the delivery of non-food items would be a real game-changer. It will be cool when friends or relatives of expats in Thailand can use tesco online to buy gifts or things.

[55Jay]

The Tesco mini that opened in my village has limited storage at the back, so their packs of meat and veg starting getting price reduced as the day wears on. I sometimes ride the motorbike up and pick up some pretty good yellow tag promos early evening/night. Veg disappears fast around my house, and I just toss the extra meat in the freezer. Still though, you're right, nothing like the weekend market for inexpensive veg and we order fresh pork from the local, delivered to our house. 140 baht for a whole, coal bbq chicken, I'm on that for 2 days and the dogs get the head/neck/feet and all the spoils chopped up for dinner.

I don't drink much beer but when I do, price and principle for 3 or 4 bottles max. My local lady shop is 70 baht for large bottle of Heineken. Tesco used to be 70, raised up to 72. 108 shop is 74 baht. So, our local gets the business and I don't mind buying a few things at Tesco and telling them I'm riding 45 seconds up the road for beer. They don't care of course, but makes me feel good, and sure the local appreciates it now that the big ugly corporate Tesco is in town.

[55Jay]

I see all the usual anti-business nuts have been let out today.

Yeah. Tesco, if nothing else, is making their move. In the next main Amphur town nearest me, they bought/leased (whatever) land right on the night/weekend market plot. Incredible gall in a "cultural" sense, but smart nontheless, long as it doesn't get accidentally burned down.

[Thai at Heart]

Someone has to big up Tesco. They have been having a shocker the last year or so, and are about to exit their escapade in the USA.

I didn't know they were in the USA.. where?

Something called fresh mart or something like that. Big bust

[muttley]

There's a clash of the titans in building an Empire, Tesco and Thaksin, wounder who will finish first

Well Done! First Prize in the "most unlikely thread to find a comment about Thaksin in" contest

Congratulations to you too for being his faithful watchdog

So you think its perfectly normal to make a political comment about Thaksin on a blatantly non political thread such as this. Can you not ever give it a rest, are you that bitter?

[hansnl]

I will tell you all good true story. There was a poor little man who had a groceries stall in a London side street.Through hard work he set up another stall then some shops then a bigger shop. He had to find a name for his group of shops. His daughter was called Tessa Cohen. So he took the first three letters of her first name and the first two letter of her last name and put them together to make......TESCO!<br /><br />That is how Tescos sarted. I think Supermarkets are happy,jolly places. Ilove them.

WRONG

The Tesco name is a cpmbination of the name of a tea merchant T.E. Stockwell and the name Cohen.

In Short TESCO

[attento]

I will tell you all good true story. There was a poor little man who had a groceries stall in a London side street.Through hard work he set up another stall then some shops then a bigger shop. He had to find a name for his group of shops. His daughter was called Tessa Cohen. So he took the first three letters of her first name and the first two letter of her last name and put them together to make......TESCO!<br /><br />That is how Tescos sarted. I think Supermarkets are happy,jolly places. Ilove them.

Interesting story, but at variance to the Google version of the origins if the TESCO name. Your creation is preferable !

[redwood13]

From the WSJ last December re Tesco's Fresh & Easy bust in the USA.

"Of the 12 main countries where Tesco operates, only Malaysia, Thailand,
Hungary and the U.S. reported positive same-store sales for the quarter.
(The retailer operates in 13 markets in total, but sales from its joint
venture in India aren't broken out in results.) Overall, world-wide
same-store sales fell 1.3%."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324640104578160514192695162.html

-redwood

[chiang mai]

The supermarket model in the UK has destroyed the intimacy of the high street and reduced social cohesion, doubtless it will do the same in Thailand over time, sad.

[kimamey]

Someone has to big up Tesco. They have been having a shocker the last year or so, and are about to exit their escapade in the USA.

I didn't know they were in the USA.. where?

Someone else has probably mentioned it but they don't use the Tesco name. Might be Fresh & Easy.

[jalansanitwong]

Theyre pulling down a factory next to my place in Thonburi,Bangkok Yai.

Guess whats going up in its place....Tesco.

Thailand is turning into one great big shopping mall same as USA.

Its no wonder Thailand has lost its appeal with alot of travellers.

[PaullyW]

Where I live there is only Tesco. No Big C, etc. The price I pay at checkout is always more than the sum of the items I pick off the shelf, as stated on the shelf. The same apple that sells for 10 baht at the local market sells for 26 baht at Tesco. The only reason I shop there is because some things I want are not available elsewhere unless I want to drive for 45 minutes.

They should bring with it the great British heritage 'Fish & Chip' shop in every branch. Tired of the yankee MacDonalds

The MacDonalds you eat at in Thailand, tastes absolutely like nothing served in the MacDonalds in the US. The Thai McD's are crap. How can anyone screw up a hamburger? Well, they do.

ALL McD's are crap worldwide. Steer clear of them and others like them if you want to live a long and healthy life !

As are, to be fair, much of the Thai food we all eat many days such as:

simple sugars like white rice and noodles

fried foods that are most popular

street market food which is often cooked in rancid oil repurchased from restaurants used oil resources (no wonder the food tastes so good)

all the many foods which are heated in or placed while hot into plastic bags and containers that leech (likely) cancer causing chemicals into our food

improperly stored and/or cooked foods which contain all manner of pathogens/microbes which can cause debilitating illnesses

stir-fried vegetables

sweet, starchy tropical fruits like pineapple, durian, mango, etc.

To be fair, you know. In the grand scheme of things, such as motor vehicles on the sidewalks, women masterfully skilled in extracting wealth, STDs, etc, I don't think the occasional McDonald's hamburger ranks very high in the long-life index...

[Rinrada]

Trouble TIT Mill

Tesco: Terry Leahy legacy criticised by former chairman

Sir Terry Leahy is regarded as one of the UK's most successful businessmen however his former chairman Lord MacLaurin has criticised the legacy left by the x chief.

He told the annual meeting that current chief Philip Clarke needed three years to revive the UK's biggest retailer.

Sir Terry is credited with turning Tesco into an international force,but Lord MacLaurin said a legacy of writedowns and exit from the US was "all very sad".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23106987

Mr Leahy could not immediately be reached for comment.

After being arguably the UK's most successful retailer for years, Tesco issued a profit warning in January 2012 and withdrew from the US after five years trying to crack the market with it Fresh & Easy chain......etc

Now that CP the chook supremo and former Lotus partner has bought Macro might be time to make a grab and take back Tesco Thailand overall.

[ratcatcher]

The supermarket model in the UK has destroyed the intimacy of the high street and reduced social cohesion, doubtless it will do the same in Thailand over time, sad.

I have to agree that there was always something sentimental about the "high street" shops, particularly in the U.K.

The so-called "mom & pop" shops that exist in Thailand are quite different from the individual shops in Europe that anyone over 40 might remember or be familiar with.

There were always butchers, bakers, fishmongers, greengrocers, hardware shops, newsagents tobacconists, electrical shops etc etc. You invariably went shopping with a list of things and when you had bought everything you needed you went home.

Impulse shopping is where you wander round a supermarket and see something interesting or tasty or the kids do it for you and you end up spending more than you needed to. That is why supermarkets are so successful, plus everything is under one roof as well as satellite shops selling all manner of things.

Mom and pop shops in Asia tend to be a bit gloomy and you have to ask for what you want, although many shops you can walk around in. There will always be small convenient shops where you can usually buy beer at any time as well as wet markets where you can buy unwrapped meat, eggs, fish and vegetables and choose exactly what you want.

In my life, we use all three types of shopping areas, supermarkets, small shops and wet markets.

Each is convenient in their own way.