With easing political tensions the past couple months, major retailers have resumed their business and marketing plans the rest of the year.
Siam Center will introduce a new multi-fashion zone while Foodland Supermarket plans to open a new branch on Phetkasem Road and Robinson Department Store expects to add six new stores.
Bangkok's Ratchaprasong shopping district is still busy as retailers pin their hopes on brighter prospects for the rest of the year. SEKSAN ROJJANAMETAKUL
Sanguan Termvivat, vice-president of Foodland Supermarket, said it will accelerate its expansion plan next year to capture the huge purchasing power of the Asean Economic Community slated for late 2015. It aims to open four new supermarkets a year starting next year, compared with three a year the past two years, costing 300 million baht per year.
Foodland projects tougher competition in Bangkok over the next few years. It also wants to access young families in suburban areas as the market in downtown areas is saturated.
Its next new supermarket will be at Victoria Garden community mall on Phetkasem Soi 69, opening in November.
Robinson plans to open six new branches across the country in the second half this year. The new branches are scheduled for Chachoengsao, Roi Et, Samut Prakan, Prachin Buri and Mukdahan provinces.
President Alan Thomson said the company plans to spend about 400 million baht for its marketing campaign the rest of the year.
Robinson reported first-half sales of 11.44 billion baht with a net profit of 979 million baht.
Siam Piwat Co will open Gin & Milk, a male fashion store with Thai designers, later this month. It will cover 100 square metres on the third floor of Siam Centre. The mall already has several women's fashion stores such as Q Design and Play, Lala Love and Rotsaniyom.
"We will become the largest venue for Thai designer brands," said a company executive.
Big C Supercenter Plc reported net profit of 3.14 billion baht on total revenue of 67 billion baht in the first half. Its retail sales grew by 3.8% while rental and service income grew 8.1%.
The strong performance resulted from continued marketing activities and store expansion, strong rental and service income performance as well as continued supply chain developments, ongoing cost optimisation and productivity enhancement initiatives, and lower debt level and finance costs.
Big C opened a new Mini Big C distribution centre in late May, moved its Pure drugstore distribution centre to a new location, and received permit for a fresh food distribution centre.