Big C helps promote OTOP products

“Big C Supercentre’s OTOP zone aims to create new marketing opportunities for OTOP products in hypermarkets, apart from selling OTOP to Thais or simply exporting them. Foreign tourists have strong potentials to support OTOP as last year over 22 million foreign tourists Thailand last year and the figure will be on the rise especially with the upcoming AEC," said Kudatara Nagaviroj, Director of Corporate Affairs of Big C Supercentre.

"Foreign tourists from China, India, Vietnam, Korea, Russia, Europe, Asia, and Middle-East are looking for good-quality and value-for-money products that they can bring back home to their friend and families. This is a perfect match to Big C as we offer wide range of OTOP products at low prices. A large number of our stores have also been frequented by foreign visitors as tour operators usually bring them to our stores before flying back home. As such, Big C, in cooperation with MOC, aims to use this marketing strengths and opportunities to support and promote OTOP among foreigners.” 

The campaign is launched ahead of Songkran festival, which annually attracts a large number of foreign tourists. An OTOP leaflet in English is created to recommend the must-buy items and provide paper box and ropes for tourists for packing free of charges.

In the medium and long term, cross-regional OTOP fairs will be hosted along with the inclusion of OTOP products on online shopping application which is available via iPhone, Android, and PCs. Big C will also raise customers’ awareness and demand through convenient, fast and low-cost sale channels and work closely with the ministry to train OTOP producers on product & packaging development as well as business competency. 

In another campaign to promote Thai agricultural products, Big C will run "Thai Mango Fair" until April 30. It aims to purchase 70,200 tonnes of fruits and vegetables this year, a 35 per cent from 2012 volume. This is estimated to cost Bt3.5 billion.