Retail / Siam Makro Plc

Editorial team

Siam Makro Plc, the operator of Makro cash & carry store, launched its “Buddymart’’ store concept to create more business opportunity to local grocery stores in Thailand.

Ekapol Koosuwan, the company’s project lead-FR Transformation, said that the company launched “Buddymart” project in the second quarter of this year. Buddymart is the concept store that helps upgrade grocery store in community to be more modern and create sustainable growth in long term.

About 25 grocery stores were changed to Buddymart concept and the number of Buddymart stores will reach 300 by the end of this year and 2,000 next year.

Grocery store operators who are interested to turn their grocery stores to Buddymart will have to pay 400,000 baht with Bangkok Bank for loan support deal.

He said that it is opportunity for grocery store to stay in the market if they adjust themselves to be modern to serve need of consumer’s changing behavior.

Joining with Makro’s Buddymart, grocery store will be able to reach a source of capital, technology support and training on category management to provide customers the right product and package in each location.

Buddymart has three models to choose including size less than 50 square metres, between 51-100 square metres and more than 100 square metres.

In addition to loan support from Bangkok Bank, Makro has joined hands with partners such as P&G, Unilever and Nestle for full promotion support.

Mr Ekapol said that the company gave an importance to grocery store because revenue from grocery store contributes 30% to the overall revenue, particularly located in northeastern region. Currently, there are 500,000 grocery stores under Makro network and of the total 100,000 stores are from northeastern region.