The Company is the leading multi-format and multi-category retailing platform in Thailand. The Company is also growing internationally, securing leadership status in Italy, and becoming the leaders in Vietnam. In addition, the Company is a pioneer in omnichannel retailing in Thailand, complementing its retail store network as well as merchandises and services offerings. Behind our portfolio of diverse retail banners known for its leading market positions across categories is the iconic “Central” brand whose reputation for delivering the best, customer-centric approach to retailing dates to over 75 years in Thailand.
The Company is committed to creating sustainable growth for the business and to becoming Asia’s No. 1 Retailer of the Future through its CRC Retailligence Strategy with 4 key strategies:
- Reinvent Next-Gen Omni Retail – Elevate omnichannel platforms by merging physical and virtual worlds, and leveraging new digital technologies to deliver next-level shopping experiences across all business segments, including food, fashion, hardline, property and new businesses across Thailand, Vietnam, and Italy.
- Accelerate Core Leadership – Accelerate growth across Central Retail’s core businesses, both locally and globally, and capture new growth opportunities with world-class partners.
- Build New Growth Pillars – Capture new business opportunities by starting with the health and wellness segment followed by other segments that tap into changing global trends and consumer needs.
- Drive Partnership, Acquisition and Spin-Off – Expand the business under the concept of inclusive growth, inspiring collective success with partners and enabling value-led sustainability.
Moreover, the Company aimed at achieving a global goal in becoming a Net Zero through the management of climate change, efficient energy management, waste management, thus committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cutting the use of plastics, and promoting environmental-friendly packaging while also lessening amount of food losses and waste constantly. In addition, the Company is also determined to promote corporate governance and business ethics, valuing all stakeholders and improving the quality of life for everyone. Emphasis is placed on the distribution of healthy & safe products for consumers, human capital development, the creation of economic value for the community and the development of local products (Community Contribution), as well as customer relationship and brand management.
The Company has several competitive strengths as follows:
- Leading muti-format retail platform with retail banners and omnichannel platform across multiple retail categories
- Focus on customer-centric to drive continuous innovation and customer engagement
- Diverse ecosystem attracts prestige brands and drives synergies and customer engagement
- Success of track record of acquisitions and expansion into other markets in Asia and abroad
- A capable and experienced management team comprising professional management from the retail industry and the Chirathivat family
At present, the Company operates its business under various retail banners. The Company has a network of 3,440 sales counters (as of 31 March 2022) such as department store, convenience store, specialty store, supermarket, hypermarket, and retail plaza, and sells products via online on the omnichannel platform. The Company’s business is organized into 4 operating segments based on business units;
- Hardline segment, which focuses on home improvement, electronics, stationery, office equipment, book, and e-Book under portfolio of retail banners, for example, Thai Watsadu, Baan & Beyond* / BNB Home, Power Buy, OffliceMate, B2S, MEB, and Nguyen Kim;
- Food segment, which focuses on groceries and items typically found in convenience stores under portfolio of retail banners, for example, Central Food Hall, Tops, FamilyMart, Big C / GO!, Lan Chi Mart, Tops Market Vietnam, and go!;
- Fashion segment, which focuses on apparel and accessories under portfolio of retail banners, for example, Central Department Store, Robinson Department Store, Rinascente Department Store, Supersports, and Central Marketing Group;
- Property segment, which focuses on leasing retail property to third parties and to its own stores at retail plazas, for example, Robinson Lifestyle, Tops Plaza, and Big C / GO! Vietnam
In addition, the Company operates the new business by starting with the health and wellness segment, which the Company plans to continually expand this business.
The Company has a presence in 3 countries; comprising of 56 provinces in Thailand, 41 provinces in Vietnam, and major cities across Italy (as of 31 March 2022).
Note: *Under rebranding to BNB HomeIn 2022, the Company plans to expand new stores, which is the key strategic format, of all business segment, i.e., 10 Thai Watsadu stores, 3 Robinson Lifestyle malls, 3 Robinson Department Stores in Thailand, and 1 GO! mall and 1 GO! hypermarket in Vietnam. In addition, the Company plans to expand new stores of other formats, e.g., supermarkets, specialty stores, and brandshops.
In the first quarter of 2022, the Company expanded 2 stores of strategic format, Robinson Lifestyle in Baanchang, Rayong province and Thai Watsadu in Chaiyapoom, while also continuously introducing its supermarkets, specialty stores, and brandshops to new areas of Thailand and Vietnam.
Regarding the renovation & rebranding, for Thailand, the Company actively worked towards renovating several stores of Robinson Lifestyle and Central Department Store, as well as other compact stores. For Vietnam, it continues to rebrand and upgrade Big C to GO! mall, GO! hypermarket or Tops market. For Italy, flagship department stores have been constantly renovated such as Milan, Florence, and Cagliari.
As of 31 March 2022, the Company has 3.3 million square meters of net sales area and 0.68 square meters of net leasable area, which increase by 1.5% and 13.0% from the same period of last year, respectively.
With strong commitment to adapt to customers’ diverse needs, the Company has continuously developed omnichannel platforms to integrate the online and offline shopping experience seamlessly. The stores in the Company’s network have combined the in-store product distribution through salespersons with the online distribution channels and created the connection with customers through a variety of services, such as Personal Shopper, Call & Shop, Click & Collect, Reserve & Collect, Chat & Shop, e-Ordering, and Shop & Drive Thru, etc.
Please see detail of major shareholders of the Company at https://www.centralretail.com/en/investor-relations/shareholder-information/major-shareholders