Grocery Store updates - Feb 2016

[pegman]

...

If one of the big retailers here was to show that they had in fact reacted to the massive reduction in import prices which they control to a degree with their equally massive buying power I would become one of their most loyal customers

Was just curious if you can document this alleged "massive reduction in import price" which you think is due to lower oil prices. I think you will find that shipping rates have not gone down much if any at all. This is due to several factors including long term fuel contracts at higher prices, recent regulations requiring low sulphur fuels which cost more, low shipping deminds, and companies raising razor thin margins.

TH

No and of course you are quite right to maybe "nail" the culprit as the transporters but my point is still a valid one, in that someone, Shipper, carrier is making big bucks out of cheaper oil and if as you correctly infer it is the carrier then why arent the Big buyers breathing down the necks of these carriers to reduce their transport costs and ergo the cost at the sales counters of the store to the customers?

I think the change in some exchange rates would have a bigger impact. There are a lot of western food items that come from Aus that should be costing much less baht. Those from the USA more.

[Spaniel]

Great post, OP. My favorite is Foodland and that's where we purchase most of our goods. But we shop at other places too. Particularly the bakery in Big C Extra on Pattaya Klang. It's run by a Frenchman and the breads and sweets are excellent. Villa is worth a stop if you are looking for a imported item you can't find elsewhere. I try to avoid Foodmart at all costs but have purchased things there mainly because it was convienent (I live in VT2).

[dannyconrad]

INCORRECT.......Friendship is always cheaper then big.

Kraft Mayo BigC 111, Friendship 89

Oberti can of olives Big C 95 , Friendship 68 i can go on and on, Once Carefour was bought out all Big C did was a raise there prices.

And when Villa starts an advert, within 2 days Friendship either matches or beats there price.

I saw this and decided to do some research. Well time passed, as did my memory, and I picked up a Big C flyer (not a Villa Flyer, we all know Villa is the most expensive) and did some price comparisons with Friendship. Much to my surprise, Jess seems to be correct in his general assessment that Friendship is cheaper than Big C with the following caveat: My new basket consisted only products that were in the Big C flyer that were also carried at Friendship (about 1/2 the exact items/brands were not carried by Friendship).

Comparing THIS basket, NON-sale prices resulted in Friendship being lower by about 9% .[Friendship did not have any of the listed items on sale.]

Comparing THIS basket, sale prices resulted in a savings of around 6% at Big C. But realistically I am not going to go shopping for just sale items.

As always, THIS basket most likely will not reflect your basket. For instance there was about 20 Casino brand items on sale at Big C which of course is the sole supplier. Selection at Big C remains far greater than Friendship. But I will no longer shy away from picking stuff up at Friendship in the hopes of saving money at BigC.

Edited April 7, 2016 by dannyconrad

[Don Mega]

As always, THIS basket most likely will not reflect your basket.

Yep, you nailed that. Not a single item on that list would I buy other than the diced tomatoes.... been 2 weeks since I last shopped but am sure they were at Foodland for like 49b a tin.

Edited April 7, 2016 by Don Mega

[balo]

I agree Friendship is cheaper on some items , but you also have to look at the discount you get by using the Big C card. I often will get 80 baht or 110 baht free coupon when I buy for more than 800 baht. So you can save some money just by using the coupons . Also buy 1 get 1 , you will find a lot of offers like that.

I only buy bread at Friendship , and maybe some imported fresh tomatoes. Big C will get the rest of my business.

Edited April 7, 2016 by balo

[patsfangr]

I still infuriates me that there is NO major supermarket on the darkside; despite all of the construction going on, from the damn tunnel, to the "Grand Canyon" hole in Soi Siam CC, to the motocross track that used to be Patanakarn Road, to the major drain projects on Nernplubwarn and Nongprue Road. It is virtually an all day project to do any significant amount of shopping from here now. Yet the damn "entrepreneurs" fail to recognize the potential gold mine of a supermarket for the exploding population base over here - especially now! What the hell is wrong with them?

[Don Mega]

I still infuriates me that there is NO major supermarket on the darkside; despite all of the construction going on, from the damn tunnel, to the "Grand Canyon" hole in Soi Siam CC, to the motocross track that used to be Patanakarn Road, to the major drain projects on Nernplubwarn and Nongprue Road. It is virtually an all day project to do any significant amount of shopping from here now. Yet the damn "entrepreneurs" fail to recognize the potential gold mine of a supermarket for the exploding population base over here - especially now! What the hell is wrong with them?

Hopefully that new shopping mall thing being built on Soi Khao Noi will have a supermarket.

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

I still infuriates me that there is NO major supermarket on the darkside; despite all of the construction going on, from the damn tunnel, to the "Grand Canyon" hole in Soi Siam CC, to the motocross track that used to be Patanakarn Road, to the major drain projects on Nernplubwarn and Nongprue Road. It is virtually an all day project to do any significant amount of shopping from here now. Yet the damn "entrepreneurs" fail to recognize the potential gold mine of a supermarket for the exploding population base over here - especially now! What the hell is wrong with them?

Hopefully that new shopping mall thing being built on Soi Khao Noi will have a supermarket.

Where is that? There seems to be an abandoned project on Khao Noi beside the Mini Big C, which is on Khao Noi (Boonsampan) when it turns southward. It comes before Murphy's Pub when you're going outbound. The project looks untouched for months.

And yes, it's an absolutely miserable journey to get to the other side for the supermarkets. I tend to cross over mid- to late-evening for shopping. Recently I had to pull over when the highway cops were checking licences. Twice in 5 days, and they block the u-turn below Khao Noi, forcing you to go all the way to Tai and retrace your route to get to Klang. Aggravating.

Edited April 8, 2016 by Kaoboi Bebobp

[Don Mega]

I still infuriates me that there is NO major supermarket on the darkside; despite all of the construction going on, from the damn tunnel, to the "Grand Canyon" hole in Soi Siam CC, to the motocross track that used to be Patanakarn Road, to the major drain projects on Nernplubwarn and Nongprue Road. It is virtually an all day project to do any significant amount of shopping from here now. Yet the damn "entrepreneurs" fail to recognize the potential gold mine of a supermarket for the exploding population base over here - especially now! What the hell is wrong with them?

Hopefully that new shopping mall thing being built on Soi Khao Noi will have a supermarket.

Where is that? There seems to be an abandoned project on Khao Noi beside the Mini Big C, which is on Khao Noi (Boonsamp[han) when it turns southward. It comes before Murphy's Pub when you're going outbound. The project looks untouched for months.

[Turkleton]

Where is that? There seems to be an abandoned project on Khao Noi beside the Mini Big C, which is on Khao Noi (Boonsampan) when it turns southward.

Not abandoned, sometimes I can see two, three people doing something...

At least they have started with the roof construction ~a week ago.

But I hardly doubt, there will be any noticeable Supermarket been build.

The construction of the whole thing seems to target only smaller shops.

The gaps between the buttresses are way too small for a bigger store.

Edited April 9, 2016 by Turkleton

[fforest1]

I my opinion Friendship is the best and mostly cheapest supermarket in

Pattaya...Makro beats every one on certain items like cheese..

But if you dont drive Makro is a pain to get to both locations.....

But I have to say big C has got really cheap canned cat food 25 Baht a can...

Edited April 9, 2016 by fforest1

[Don Mega]

I my opinion Friendship is the best and mostly cheapest supermarket in

Pattaya...Makro beats every one on certain items like cheese..

But if you dont drive Makro is a pain to get to both locations.....

But I have to say big C has got really cheap canned cat food 25 Baht a can...

Cat food goes good on brown bread with some cheese and lettuce.

[NickJ]

It's a bit salty though Don Mega......I bought some good swiss cheese at Foodmart for a good price. If you get there right after they have stoked the Bakery stuff its pretty good as well. Also found Onion powder there as it is really hard to find anywhere else.....

[The manic]

Good thread - Good idea.  It's true loads of info is out of date.  What I also find irritating is the lack of specific addresses when researching locations of shopping areas.  

[Seizetheday]

I like the supermarket at Central, slightly more expensive, but that get's rid of the cheap charlies, 99% of the Russians and 99% of the Thais.

 

I've never waited more than a minute to get served.

[NanLaew]

6 hours ago, Seizetheday said:

I like the supermarket at Central, slightly more expensive, but that get's rid of the cheap charlies, 99% of the Russians and 99% of the Thais.

 

I've never waited more than a minute to get served.

 

It is pretty good but it has been downsized considerably in the latter part of 2016, around the same time as TOPS under Tukcom grew bigger.

 

Hoping that the TOPS at the new 'The Chilled' mall on Kaonoi will be a decent sized one.

[GaryB1263]

This is a great thread. Maybe I need to do a comparison on Beer prices??

[Seizetheday]

3 hours ago, GaryB1263 said:

This is a great thread. Maybe I need to do a comparison on Beer prices??

Yes, I'm chuffed to find out where I can save 5 Baht on a can of tomatoes.

[NanLaew]

20 hours ago, NanLaew said:

 

It is pretty good but it has been downsized considerably in the latter part of 2016, around the same time as TOPS under Tukcom grew bigger.

 

Hoping that the TOPS at the new 'The Chilled' mall on Kaonoi will be a decent sized one.

 

I checked out TOPS at The Chilled on Kaonoi today. Similar size and product range to their outlet underneath Tukcom. The dining at the front was quite busy at about 1:30 PM. parking out front was available but the traffic was quite light so no hardship with nose-in/backing-out parking. It does look like there's ample covered parking as well. I was thinking a handy alternative for my northern darkside domicile until I remembered that the west-end of Soi Siam Country Club is still like Beirut even when trying to cross over it!

[ThaiBob]

On 1/12/2017 at 11:39 AM, Seizetheday said:

I like the supermarket at Central, slightly more expensive, but that get's rid of the cheap charlies, 99% of the Russians and 99% of the Thais.

 

I've never waited more than a minute to get served.

The new reorganized, expanded Central is most pleasant and would be at the top of list if it had more convenient hours. Floor space is the same but more products more selection with the new shelving. The best produce in town but the fresh meat department is a disappointment (Big C extra or Foodland much better). The new salad bar and deli bar are nice additions. 

[Rimmer]

An off topic vid has been removed

[joepattaya1961]

I went to The Chilled yesterday, expecting a buzzing and packed shopping mall. 

In reality.......only the 1st/ground floor is in use at the moment.

A big Tops with a wide variety of fresh products, a Watsons, a hairdresser, a Chao Doi coffee stand and a few new to open shops. 

The only intersting thing is Tops.

 

Location as shown in post #39.

Soi Khao Noi, next to Mini Big C and opposite Chok Chai Garden Home 4

 

Edited January 15, 2017 by joepattaya1961