farang luxury foods[going up up up]

[Kabula]

The reason for the increase in price is because the reserve currency, the US$ is losing value and the Thai baht is increasing in value against the dollar. Most International trade is/was done in US dollars.

Also, shipping prices have increased dramatically so those costs add to the higher prices.

As the dollar weakens, along with some other currencies, imports will continue to increase in price.

Also, with tax, electric, minimum wage, insurance and most all business expenses increasing worldwide for store owners, they have to price that in.

I really wish guests in Thailand would stop blaming Thais for more and more.

They have no idea how good they have it here compared to the rest of the world!

[Monkeyrobot]

I'm curious what price Turkey will be this year. Will it go back down to ~160 Baht/kg or just leave it at 250Baht+ /kg

Where can you buy those 1kilo butterball turkey breasts ? They went from 800b to 1500b at xmas and now I can't find them anywhere.

[Blue Muton]

Spam is luxury food

....so are baked beans!!

[Blue Muton]

Spam egg chips and beans.

Try buying basic Thai food in the UK.

My wife lived in Glasgow with me for 9 years.

We went once a month to a very large Asian s/market to get all her Thai bits n bobs.

Roughly 60/70 quid... but over here...less than a fiver.

I remember paying £43 for a Durian in Wing Yip. Because she's worth it.

I wouldn't pay 4p for a tin of Spam, or baked beans for that matter.

[samuijimmy]

Better pop over to UK and price compare and buy at, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Tesco, etc ... they all advertise they are cheapest on the UK telly...

Go now and stock up !

[laolover88]

It is all a Prime Ministerial Strategy. He has had operatives scouring the shelves of Makro, Villa Market ,Foodland, even Rimping to discover the foods that farangs and particularly overstaying criminals purchase. A price hike of several 100% is being carefully brought in so that said farangs will wither starve, spend a fortune or have to leave the "kingdom" or "generaldom" as we now call it. I wonder what you actually think are staples and luxuries? Staples are pretty obvious. Then there are Anchovies, Olives, Lamb, proper wine (not Mont Clair), Cream, proper Butter, (not blended), Bovril, proper milk (not powdered reconstituted) decent Chocolate, Cheese (non processed, Fresh Pasta, etc. etc.

[mike324]

Its expensive not because of of Tax, but because of markup by importers to be honest.

I think you will find that it is both, with duty being the main part.

Tax on Spam is at 30%. I don't eat it, but I am guessing its almost double the price in Thailand compare to the west. There are some imported food items where I find it to be about the same price as the West or 30-50% higher. Its mostly has to do with the markup the importer puts on that makes it very expensive. With the recent increase, it has to do mostly with the currency exchange as Thai baht has been pretty weak.

Same for luxury fashion goods, some type of items you will find that it is on average 20-30% more expensive due to the duty, but for other brands it is double the cost compare to prices in the West due to importer markups.

Its expensive not because of of Tax, but because of markup by importers to be honest.

Yeah logistics and transport are free so they are not factored into the price either

If you are shipping small items like a tin of Spam in a full container or even consolidated shipment, transport and logistics cost is small. Shipping cost adds to less than 5% of the total cost. I did not say it was free, just a negligible cost that is not felt by the consumer compare to the duty and markups.O

On the other hand if you were talking about foods that are air frieght in such as fruits, yes logistic cost would play a bigger role in the price of the goods.

[Ulic]

Probably better to refer to it as comfort food rather than luxury food items.

[Merylhighground]

@Meatboy. Villa Suk 11 had Kippers (proper ones) in December in the freezer section but they ain't too cheap. 99B for a pair if memory serves me right but the were a welcome treat to come down to on Christmas Morning....

The above link posted (I forget get by who, apologies) for Heinz beans at Tesco at 99B a can are the 'English recipe' ones which are common in Malaysia at about 3RM a can (which is about 30/40B) and imported from Australia. RIbena is also reasonable there too, next visa run, take a big bag and stock up or open your own Heinz Bean and Ribena Shop....

[thailand49]

Playing by the rule are not in the cards Thailand nor a country like China. Like him or not maybe Trump has it right on this one. We have free trade but it is only going one way for them not for us. Someone mention choices not concern about the prices, someone said prices are high due to transportation and I agree but it works both ways. Many smaller companies do not want to deal with the above and that reduces your choices.

.

When a can of imported Spam is 220 and a Thai can of spam 85 Baht,, guess what can a Thai is going to buy?

Edited April 29, 2016 by thailand49

[Berty100]

The reason for the increase in price is because the reserve currency, the US$ is losing value and the Thai baht is increasing in value against the dollar. Most International trade is/was done in US dollars.

Also, shipping prices have increased dramatically so those costs add to the higher prices.

As the dollar weakens, along with some other currencies, imports will continue to increase in price.

Also, with tax, electric, minimum wage, insurance and most all business expenses increasing worldwide for store owners, they have to price that in.

I really wish guests in Thailand would stop blaming Thais for more and more.

They have no idea how good they have it here compared to the rest of the world!

Fine the Baht is weak in your view, however in reality it is much stronger against any European currency compared with 2 years ago. And no imports from Europe are not paid in Dollars.

Shipping prices have increased dramatically according to you, but I have a hard time believing that when I see that crude oil prices have plunged by more than 50%.

So I think there are some flaws in your statements.

Now anyway, please explain the following.

A 250gr President Camembert cheese is 1.45 Euro ( 56 Baht ) RETAIL price where I come from, and that is even not the country of origin.

At Big C, which get that particular cheese from the country of origin, it is 520 Baht for that very same cheese.

I guess they bring them over one by one by private courier,

[HannahD]

For tinned beans the local brand Ayam is excellent. Easily matches the quality of Campbells. In fact all Ayam items are high quality.

[alanrchase]

For tinned beans the local brand Ayam is excellent. Easily matches the quality of Campbells. In fact all Ayam items are high quality.

Tried them, too sweet for my taste.

[arunsakda]

Gave up on Black Puddings when makro decided they are worth their weight in gold, can do without. Imported Cheeses are a must have however.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rob13]

As the dollar weakens, along with some other currencies, imports will continue to increase in price.

If the USD is weakening against the THB then the price rise for imports would have to be for another reason. Weaker dollar means more spam for the baht and lower price.

[White Christmas13]

Spam is luxury food

My thoughts exactly the same.

I get a lot of spam in my e-mail for free

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

General question: Is there a store in Bangkok, or anywhere else, that sells imported expat goods? I know there is a place in Santa Monica that sells British products, is there anything like that in Thailand?

I was shopping in the Tesco OnNut store last night, and noticed they have done something new there lately.

Before, they had various items of their "Tesco's Finest" imported brand product scattered about the store, somewhat along with similar Thai products.

But now, they've carved out a little enclave at the back of the store where they've put a lot of their Tesco's Finest products all together in one place, store shelf stuff and some refrigerated items as well. The range of selection wasn't overwhelming, but it was nice to look through.

Coffees, chocolates, biscuits and crackers, jarred pasta sauces, pasta noodles, some refrigerated deserts like cheese cakes, chocolate deserts, seasonings, salad dressings, and probably some other things I'm forgetting.

Meanwhile, FWIW, the Big C at Ratchadamri across from CentralWorld also has done something similar for some time. They have a couple of aisles of entirely imported products right alongside the alcohol section at the back of the store. Used to have a lot of their Casino products there, but haven't checked it lately to see to what extent Casino is surviving there.

Edited April 29, 2016 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[ThaiKneeTim]

Its expensive not because of of Tax, but because of markup by importers to be honest.

Just pure Capitalist greed.

Or maybe just the import duty, no bulk purchase discount, limited shelf life write off!!

I just checked the Tesco UK online shopping and a 340 gram tin of Spam is TBH 102. Tesco bulk buy and get substantial discounts due to their immense buying power, an expat store wouldn't have a fraction of the buying power and would have to pay import duty. Half the shelf life would be lost on the sea journey, so unless all the stock was sold there is a good chance that dome would end up in the trash.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Its expensive not because of of Tax, but because of markup by importers to be honest.

Just pure Capitalist greed.

Or maybe just the import duty, no bulk purchase discount, limited shelf life write off!!

I just checked the Tesco UK online shopping and a 340 gram tin of Spam is TBH 102. Tesco bulk buy and get substantial discounts due to their immense buying power, an expat store wouldn't have a fraction of the buying power and would have to pay import duty. Half the shelf life would be lost on the sea journey, so unless all the stock was sold there is a good chance that dome would end up in the trash.

if the issue is the canned meat stuff Spam, AFAIK, it has a shelf live that might run a couple of decades!!! (almost )

I don't think cans of Spam are going to lose any significant portion of their shelf life on a boat drip over from the U.S. (or wherever) to Thailand.

[walkoff]

Baked beans and spam = luxury ???

Simpler things in life can be classified as a luxury.........

[Berty100]

For tinned beans the local brand Ayam is excellent. Easily matches the quality of Campbells. In fact all Ayam items are high quality.

Agree, I prefer them over Brooks beans any day, but I only fancy the light version.

And actually they are fro Malaysia and halal.

[Jack Garbo]

Spam is luxury food

And baked beans? In 0z we'd call it dog food.

[Don Mega]

When a can of imported Spam is 220 and a Thai can of spam 85 Baht,, guess what can a Thai is going to buy?

The Thai will buy neither.

[ThaiKneeTim]

Its expensive not because of of Tax, but because of markup by importers to be honest.

Just pure Capitalist greed.

Or maybe just the import duty, no bulk purchase discount, limited shelf life write off!!

I just checked the Tesco UK online shopping and a 340 gram tin of Spam is TBH 102. Tesco bulk buy and get substantial discounts due to their immense buying power, an expat store wouldn't have a fraction of the buying power and would have to pay import duty. Half the shelf life would be lost on the sea journey, so unless all the stock was sold there is a good chance that dome would end up in the trash.

if the issue is the canned meat stuff Spam, AFAIK, it has a shelf live that might run a couple of decades!!! (almost )

I don't think cans of Spam are going to lose any significant portion of their shelf life on a boat drip over from the U.S. (or wherever) to Thailand.

Shelf life (sell by date) is usually significantly shorter than 'use by date'. I agree tinned for has a long life, but how long it should be kept in stock is more a case of liability than a real health concern. Edited April 30, 2016 by ThaiKneeTim

[mike324]

Its expensive not because of of Tax, but because of markup by importers to be honest.

Just pure Capitalist greed.

Or maybe just the import duty, no bulk purchase discount, limited shelf life write off!!

I just checked the Tesco UK online shopping and a 340 gram tin of Spam is TBH 102. Tesco bulk buy and get substantial discounts due to their immense buying power, an expat store wouldn't have a fraction of the buying power and would have to pay import duty. Half the shelf life would be lost on the sea journey, so unless all the stock was sold there is a good chance that dome would end up in the trash.

But 'use by date' is always shorter than the real expiration date which is not printed. Canned meats are known to expired 2-5 years after the printed 'use by date'. 'use by date' are the maximum freshness date that manufacturers print. This confusion is why folks in the west waste a lot of perfectly good food.

On the topic of buying power. Spam is found in pretty much all supermarkets nationwide here, so buying power really isn't an issue. Importer can easily bring in one container, which is quite a bit. Shipping on average takes 30 days by sea freight, so that makes no difference on the shelf life to be honest, 'half the shelf life would be lost on the sea journey' is bit exaggerated.

[SoiBiker]

People come to a country where there's delicious food everywhere and eat imported spam and baked beans?

Unbelievable.

[mike324]

General question: Is there a store in Bangkok, or anywhere else, that sells imported expat goods? I know there is a place in Santa Monica that sells British products, is there anything like that in Thailand?

I was shopping in the Tesco OnNut store last night, and noticed they have done something new there lately.

Before, they had various items of their "Tesco's Finest" imported brand product scattered about the store, somewhat along with similar Thai products.

But now, they've carved out a little enclave at the back of the store where they've put a lot of their Tesco's Finest products all together in one place, store shelf stuff and some refrigerated items as well. The range of selection wasn't overwhelming, but it was nice to look through.

Coffees, chocolates, biscuits and crackers, jarred pasta sauces, pasta noodles, some refrigerated deserts like cheese cakes, chocolate deserts, seasonings, salad dressings, and probably some other things I'm forgetting.

Meanwhile, FWIW, the Big C at Ratchadamri across from CentralWorld also has done something similar for some time. They have a couple of aisles of entirely imported products right alongside the alcohol section at the back of the store. Used to have a lot of their Casino products there, but haven't checked it lately to see to what extent Casino is surviving there.

Villa and Tops Gourmet Market at Central Chidlom seems to have the most imported western food. Follow by supermarkets at Paragon and other malls. I found Lotus and Big C to have a very small selection.

Big C across from CentralWorld seems to be having less Casino products, since Casino Group sold their stake in Big C earlier this year, looks like there will be less and less of Casion branded products in the future, I may be wrong.

[Don Mega]

People come to a country where there's delicious food everywhere and eat imported spam and baked beans?

Unbelievable.

Maybe some did not move here for the food.

Unbelievable !!

also to add, Makro has SPC Baked Beans for Bt.59 a tin.

Edited April 30, 2016 by Don Mega

[ThaiKneeTim]

But 'use by date' is always shorter than the real expiration date which is not printed. Canned meats are known to expired 2-5 years after the printed 'use by date'. 'use by date' are the maximum freshness date that manufacturers print. This confusion is why folks in the west waste a lot of perfectly good food.

I'm old enough to remember the time before dates were added and the only time a tin was chucked was when it has blown. Post WWII the British government kept stockpiles of tinned goods for up to 20 years, but I should point out that they were also chilled.

A retail food business can't afford to sell anything out of date, and as i mentioned previously, there is also a 'sell by date' on food items these days.

On the topic of buying power. Spam is found in pretty much all supermarkets nationwide here, so buying power really isn't an issue. Importer can easily bring in one container, which is quite a bit. Shipping on average takes 30 days by sea freight, so that makes no difference on the shelf life to be honest, 'half the shelf life would be lost on the sea journey' is bit exaggerated.

Yes I now gather that Spam is more widely available than just expat stores, although there has been talk of other brands besides Spam, even mention of a brand of chopped ham made in Thailand!

I was thinking of a wider time span than just the sea journey, I know a container can sit at the docks for weeks before the right ship arrived for the required destination. I worked for a well known medical NGO in Africa, it took a minimum 3 months for anything I ordered to arrive at the hospital. I'm also aware that there are wholesale companies in the UK that supply expat outlets worldwide, and I'm aware of the timeframes they work to, and it certainly isn't next day delivery!

[mike324]

I'm old enough to remember the time before dates were added and the only time a tin was chucked was when it has blown. Post WWII the British government kept stockpiles of tinned goods for up to 20 years, but I should point out that they were also chilled.

A retail food business can't afford to sell anything out of date, and as i mentioned previously, there is also a 'sell by date' on food items these days.

Yes I now gather that Spam is more widely available than just expat stores, although there has been talk of other brands besides Spam, even mention of a brand of chopped ham made in Thailand!

I was thinking of a wider time span than just the sea journey, I know a container can sit at the docks for weeks before the right ship arrived for the required destination. I worked for a well known medical NGO in Africa, it took a minimum 3 months for anything I ordered to arrive at the hospital. I'm also aware that there are wholesale companies in the UK that supply expat outlets worldwide, and I'm aware of the timeframes they work to, and it certainly isn't next day delivery!

I know a business can't sell anything expired. Spam only has one date on the bottom of the can for "best by". So shelf life is really up until the "best by" date, many times it gets sold by then. It just happens there is no "Sell by date" on Spam due to its long life span. But typically production date until their marked "best by" date is around 3 years. So 3 years time is what a store has for Spam, many times in Thailand you will even find items still on the shelf past expiration date, especially when it comes to imported stuff. Again yes there are items with both sell by and use by date which I am aware of as well, but we are talking about canned foods here, shelf life of the product plays a small part in how fast a retailer has to sell the goods by and the part where you mention that is one of the reasons why they may have to mark up the product.

It tooked that long for your past experience in Africa, because there are not that many ships going to your destination in Africa, not to mention the ground logistics isn't that good in Africa. Hence the long 3 months wait. I export goods on a weekly basis, so 1 month to USA and 3 weeks to 1 month to European countries is the average for sea freight times. Yes you can book ships easily on a weekly basis. Perhaps give them 5 days to get goods cleared at customs and delivered to final destination. Good don't typically sit on the docks for weeks unless its poor planning by the logistics company or due to strikes at the port.

So again shipping time isn't a big factor for canned foods expiring which you keep on stressing.