TUESDAY, March 19, 2024
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Big C budgets Bt7 billion for 2016 expansion

Big C budgets Bt7 billion for  2016 expansion

BIG C SUPERCENTER has earmarked up to Bt7 billion for an expansion and renovation budget this year while it plans to continue supporting farmers in order to stimulate the economy.

Warunee Kitjaroenpoonsin, Big C director for corporate affairs, said that the investment would result in the construction of six hypermarkets, three Big C Markets and 75 Mini Big Cs by the end of this year. 
The company also plans to construct three Pure pharmacy stores this year while seven existing hypermarkets, including at Lop Buri province and the Bang Phli district of Samut Prakan, will be renovated. 
Currently, the company has 125 large-format stores – Big C Supercenter, Extra and Jumbo, 55 Big C Markets, 391 Mini Big Cs and 163 Pure pharmacies. 
For last year, the company expects retail sales to reach Bt119.6 billion, a decline of 1.8 per cent over the same period in 2014, with the same-store sales evaluation forecast to drop 3 per cent drop year on year. 
Rental income for last year is expected to reach Bt9.8 billion, an increase of 4.3 per cent on the previous year. 
The leading retailer plans to support farmers, particularly members of royal projects, by increasing the volume of fresh vegetables and fruits to 100,000 tonnes this year, a 20 per cent increase on last year’s level. 
Warunee said Big C Supercenter would voluntarily offer areas at its hypermarkets and Market stores for use as farmers’ markets on weekends. 
Warunee said that with the support of the Interior Ministry, which would communicate with each local administrative office, local traders and farmers would use the markets to sell products at up to 30 booths at each store. 
The project is set to be launch next month or in March.
 
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