Yesterday I was shopping in the 'Tops' food hall at Central Festival, and was impressed by the large selection of UK Sainsburys Cheddar cheese, it was priced at Baht 250 per 250 gram pack, I then noticed that several packs had large circular red stickers saying "Special Offer, buy two for £5" that is around Baht 250.

What was the manager thinking, leaving these stickers on, not very smart marketing strategy, seeing that was already priced way above other imported brands. I know import duties are very high here, but how much of the stuff are they expecting to sell at those prices, I must say I would not have had to stand in line to be served. Looking around at other imported products here, I find the some of the prices astronomical.

What was the manager thinking

Not a lot, most likely; probably doesn't know the exchange rate or what the pound is even.

Welcome to Thailand.

Not about cheese but Iceland frozen sruff is also availiable too.

On the package printed is one pound. In store 265thb.

Around a fiver ! And to boot its actually made in bangkok !.

I actually did contact iceland uk about this ( sad yes very sad i know ) and there responce was, up to them.

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Thais don't eat much cheese, the market is small, the price is high. If you can't afford it, don't buy it.

What does a sweet ripe mango sell for in the dead of winter where you come from?

I agree with your point about the sweet ripe mangos, I love them, and for sure are not available in the UK.

I am afraid you missed my point about cheese prices, yes I do buy it, and it is expensive here. I was just pointing out the fact that the Sainsburys UK sticker price not being removed, and that the brand was much more expensive than other imported brands.

Thailands definition of a "luxury item" and imposition of a massive import tax is laughable.

When i was in the UK recently i was in a pound shop and saw a ready meal ,green curry ,looked on the back ,made in Thailand ,saw some in tesco the other day 48 baht , almost the same price as the UK ,yet it has been shipped 5000 miles ,why not much cheaper here?

Perhaps it is because they tried to sell it for more and could not, or maybe it's because the UK (unable to actually feed itself) has very low duties on imported food.

I travel to Dubai 5-8 times a year and Thai fruit in the market is at least 5 times what it is here.

Anyone who likes cheddar cheese should go to Macro and buy Anchor NZ, 2k block for less than ฿800. Divide it into 8 pieces, wrap it and freeze it. It will keep for 3 months without problem. 250g = ฿100

Big brand names are expensive in the home country and so they are in Thailand (multiplied by tax/customs/transport).

The same story for brands from Germany, Switzerland etc.

So I usually pick "no names" like the Big-C (ex Carrefour) "Casino" products.

For cheese: I have no idea whether "MAINLAND" is a major brand in New Zealand, but its my favourite pick here.

They have different sorts of cheese, 250 gramm for about 170 to 190 Baht (Makro is cheapest usually, if they have it).

Good quality for an OK price.

Remove the plastic packaging, put it in a closed box (on a papertowel) in the fridge.

It will be perfect for more than two weeks.

From a patriotic point I would have to buy Swiss cheese. But simply too expensive.

Edited October 23, 201411 yr by KhunBENQ

Makro has Danish Blue at prices similar (if not cheaper) than the price in UK

That is a good tip by "billphillips" about Anchor NZ

Up until now I have been "eeking" out the Cheddar I brought back from England

So no real need to bother now

Duch Edam is a little more 1.8k for ฿800. Gouda is about ฿2000 for 2k. Real whole ham 2k for about ฿1000.

Great prices if you buy big, as the restaurants do.

Freezing cheese is a no-no.......

Freezing cheese is a yes yes.

If someone personally, for some reason, prefers not to do so that is their own choice.

Google it if you are unsure.

Edited October 24, 201411 yr by billphillips

Freezing cheese is a no-no.......

Only true for certain types of spread cheese / cream cheese.

These sorts will "decompose/separate" into water and fat when thawing.

Hard cheese is not a problem.

On the other hand: a correctly stored/packed hard cheese will be fine in the fridge for two weeks or so.

Edited October 24, 201411 yr by KhunBENQ