In a world where the pace of life continues to accelerate, CP AXTRA – the operator of Makro and Lotus’s – is reimagining the role of shopping malls in people’s lives. With its new “Happy Community” model, the company is transforming retail spaces into vibrant, inclusive hubs that bring people together, support local livelihoods and promote healthier, more sustainable lifestyles.
First launched at Lotus’s Saraburi branch, Happy Community spaces are designed to become more than places to shop – they’re places to live, connect and thrive. The model blends lifestyle-focused activities with community engagement, creating everyday spaces that bring joy and real value to people across generations. With plans to expand the concept to 100 Lotus’s branches nationwide, CP AXTRA is reinforcing its long-term commitments to standing beside Thai society and helping uplift communities through purposeful innovation.
At the heart of the initiative is the “Community Market,” a platform that opens mall space to SMEs, farmers and small vendors. It’s simple but powerful concept: giving community members a different channel to sell their products, while offering shoppers access to fresh, quality goods at affordable prices. In today’s economic climate, where many households are watching their spending more closely, this initiative is making a tangible difference. It’s generating jobs, supporting income stability and strengthening the grassroots economy by keeping money circulating within the community.
But the impact goes far beyond economics. Happy Community also promotes physical wellbeing through free aerobic and body combat workout sessions held at Lotus’s Hypermarkets. These sessions, combined with on-site health screenings provided by leading hospitals, including blood sugar, blood pressure and BMI checks, are helping make preventive health care more accessible to people where they live and shop.
Equally important is the initiative’s environmental focus. Through the AXTRA Green Together campaign, Happy Community is helping to build everyday awareness around sustainability. A dedicated recycling market accepts used PET plastic bottles, which are upcycled into sports shirts for Thai youth. Participants receive eco-friendly souvenirs, such as reusable cloth bags, that encourage a shift toward more sustainable consumption habits and long-term environmental responsibility.
By weaving together economic opportunity, public health and environmental action, CP AXTRA’s Happy Community model is creating more than just welcoming mall spaces. It’s fostering a sense of place, purpose and belonging. It’s showing how business can be a positive force in people’s lives – driving inclusive growth, strengthening social bonds and contributing to a better quality of life for communities across Thailand.
