Robinson Department Store Plc, a Central Group company, will spend 4.5 billion baht to expand business next year in response to an expected rebound in consumer spending.
The Robinson lifestyle centre in Prachin Buri is meant as a shopping destination for young people.
The SET-listed retailer plans to open seven new department stores next year, five in Thailand and two in Vietnam. A Robinson executive said three of the Thai stores would be in suburban Bangkok and one each in Rayong and Buriram provinces.
"We will expand our department stores in secondary provinces, which have huge opportunities because there are no direct competitors to Robinson," he said.
Robinson will open more lifestyle complexes upcountry after good customers response at its first one in Trang province.
The company expects to have 41 Robinson department stores overall by year-end. Of the total, 39 will be in Thailand and two in Vietnam. In Thailand, 13 branches feature the lifestyle centre concept.
Last week, the company officially opened its latest Robinson lifestyle centre in Prachin Buri province. Spending 980 million baht on the project with 20,000 square metres of space, it aims to attract young people.
The province is an industrial, commercial and transport hub in eastern Thailand and positioned to respond to increased purchasing power when the Asean Economic Community takes effect by the end of next year.
The Robinson lifestyle centre concept is anchored by Power Buy, Super Sport and Tops Supermarket, plus 30 restaurants and the SF Cinema.
Robinson Department Store's revenue in the first nine months of the year reached 19.4 billion baht with a net profit of 1.33 billion baht.
ROBINS shares closed Thursday on the SET at 48 baht, down 75 satang, in trade worth 85.9 million baht.