Tops under Central Retail accelerates investment expansion plan for 5 years.

Tops, food business under Central Retail, is driving continuous business growth according to the 5-year strategy 'CRC Retailigence,' with an investment of over 150 million baht, surging to expand 3 branches in 3 destinations to welcome the new year, accommodating the demand during the high season, while attracting purchasing power from the tourist group. This reaffirms the strength of Thailand's leading food retail potential, catering to all customer needs in every segment by developing distinctive and contemporary store formats. It also presents product and service experiences designed to meet the lifestyle of target groups in each comprehensive area, elevating towards being a Food Destination & Discovery that stands at the core of every customer's heart.

Mr. Stephane Coum, Chief Executive Officer of Food Group, Central Retail said, "Since Tops announced the strategy to integrate its retail business into the unified food group, we have continued to advance further by developing store formats and expanding branches to sustain continuous business growth. Most recently, during the past New Year festival season, we expanded with 3 new branches in 3 key provinces — Tops Food Hall Mega Bangna Bangkok, Tops Rawayana Phuket, and Tops Foodie Farm Nonthaburi. These strategic locations are chosen in vital areas with high potential in Bangkok's western region, community market zones, showing rapid expansion and growth, extending to the forefront of the country's important economic and tourism areas, such as Phuket province, to accommodate the demand of both Thai and international tourists preparing to travel during this year's high season. This brings Tops' current total branch count to 161 nationwide, in line with the goal of being the leader in all supermarket retail formats, covering all customer segments as the top food retail following the 5-year strategy of Central Food Retail."

• Experience world-class shopping at 'Tops Food Hall Mega Bangna, immersing in an impeccable shopping experience

Elevating the shopping experience to a whole new level is 'Tops Food Hall Mega Bangna,' transcending from the Tops store model to Tops Food Hall to cater to the lifestyle and needs of high purchasing power customers in the affluent zone of Bangkok's continuously growing eastern region. This mirrors the brand's understanding of its customers and perfectly adapting store formats to suit the exacting tastes of consumers. This premium food store marks the 18th branch under the Tops brand, a kingdom of premium quality food products sourced globally, showcasing over 28,000 items, including premium grade imported fresh fruits, a variety of imported seafood and meats, and the finest quality ingredients for special meals, renowned branded snacks, and much more. Spanning across a space of more than 2,056 square meters, the concept 'Discover A Truly World Class Food Destination' is realized through outstanding and contemporary interior and exterior designs, coupled with top-notch service at every step and special promotions for customers to explore all year round.

• Tops Rawayana offers a destination for shoppers and tourists, bolstering the southern locale

Phuket shines as one of Thailand's premier tourist destinations. Data from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office reveals that between January and September 2017, Phuket attracted 12% of all foreign tourists entering Thailand, contributing a remarkable 30% to the national tourism revenue. Anticipating the continuous recovery of Phuket's tourism in 2018, Tops spotted an opportunity in the growing demand. Thus, 'Tops Rawayana' situated in the Mixx Mall Rawayana, part of the Rawayana Beach Front Village project developed by Phuket 9, has been launched. This marks the 7th Tops Supermarket branch in Phuket and introduces a superior shopping experience. It aims to become a comprehensive lifestyle hub, offering premium quality food products sourced locally and internationally, carefully curated from over 14,000 items. Moreover, Tops Wine Cellar, the specialty store, makes its debut, offering an exquisite selection of globally acclaimed wines stored under controlled temperatures 24/7, accompanied by sommeliers providing guidance to a wide range of customers. This initiative caters not only to local needs but also to the desires of international tourists seeking exquisite culinary experiences amidst the beautiful natural and beachside ambiance."

• 'Tops Foodie Farm' marks its debut in the expansion towards community markets, catering comprehensively to every culinary need, conveniently accessible within the community

Over the past few years, Tops has concentrated on a strategy to expand its branches into community markets, aiming to reach customers within various communities. This initiative aims to offer a wider array of quality products for locals to purchase without having to travel into the city center. Convenient and easily accessible, Tops Foodie Farm will enhance the experience by providing quality ingredients and food options, offering a new comprehensive choice for consumers in the Bang Yai neighbourhood. Situated within the Foody Farm Bang Yai Community Market along Bang Muang-Bang Khulat Road, this location boasts a dense community presence with over 50 residential projects totalling more than 10,000 units. Tops' branch expansion into this modern market format marks the first step in establishing a community market that caters to the lifestyle needs of locals, providing a one-stop destination for household consumer goods without the need for extensive travel, bringing Tops even closer to the consumers."

"Continuing to forge ahead with dedication and commitment to delivering the best products and services to all customers, Tops relentlessly evolves its store formats and expands new branches to comprehensively reach customers across all segments. Believing that the launch of these three new branches is not only about enriching the shopping experience but also about stimulating retail market spending during the year-end festivities, aiming to further boost Thailand's economy in the upcoming year," concluded Mr. Stephane.

Discover the most comprehensive and distinctive shopping experiences at Tops Rawayana, Tops Foodie Farm, and Tops Food Hall Mega Bangna - operating daily from 08:00 to 22:00. For more information, visit www.tops.co.th, Facebook @TopsThailand, and LINE Official @TopsThailand.

HTML::image(