Thai supermarket Tops establishes 24-hour flood response centre
The retailer reports sufficient stocks of daily necessities, while some branches have temporarily closed or changed opening hours as flooding affects operations.
- The Tops supermarket chain has created a 24-hour flood response and monitoring center to coordinate its operations in real time.
- The center's main goals are to ensure staff and customer safety, manage the supply chain, and maintain sufficient stock of essential goods like water and food.
- As part of the response, some branches in at-risk areas have been temporarily closed or have had their opening hours adjusted.
Panic over flooding has prompted shoppers to buy large quantities of goods at supermarkets, convenience stores and hypermarkets as they prepare for an unpredictable situation.
Tops, a major supermarket chain under Central Retail, has announced the establishment of a 24-hour flood response and monitoring centre, or “war room”, to coordinate operations in real time.
The measures cover assessing customer and staff safety, installing flood barriers and preparing drainage systems at branches, and managing the supply chain with suppliers and partners.
The aim is to maintain reserves and distribute enough essential goods to branches to meet customer demand, ensuring people can rely on access to everyday necessities.
The company will continue to monitor developments closely and adjust operations until the situation eases.
Stocks of “essential goods” sufficient to meet demand
Tops stressed that its warehouses and distribution centres held sufficient stocks, particularly of essential items such as drinking water, dry foodstuffs, ready-to-eat meals and everyday household supplies.
Tops is closely managing its response to flooding in Bangkok, overseeing stock levels and stepping up regular store replenishment to meet demand in each area.
Logistics and deliveries are continuing as normal, with additional delivery runs arranged to restock shelves more quickly, particularly with ready-to-eat food and drinking water.
However, high water levels, traffic congestion or unsafe travel conditions in some areas may delay deliveries at times.
Tops is prioritising the safety of delivery staff and other workers, assessing conditions and adjusting delivery plans to suit each area, while making every effort to manage and distribute supplies so customers retain access to essential goods.
Branches at risk close or change opening hours
Some affected branches have nevertheless had to close temporarily or adjust their opening and closing times in line with local conditions and shopping centre operating hours.
The temporary closures cover one Tops branch at Fashion Island; six Tops Daily branches at Ratchadaphisek 52, Chaloem Prakiat 30 Yaek 14, Soi Romklao 27, Nilubon Soi 10, Keha Klongchan and Khlong Tamru; and three Tops Care branches at Sukha Phiban 3, Lat Krabang and Hua Mak.
Customers can follow updates on the situation and individual branches’ operating status through the official Tops Thailand Facebook page.
The information was current as of 6.40pm on September 26.
Tops, Tops Daily and Tops Care are ready to resume normal service as soon as conditions in each area allow.
