Central Chidlom has achieved the highest international honour by winning ‘The Most Innovative Department Store in the World’ award from the Intercontinental Group of Department Stores World Department Store Summit (IGDS WDSS) 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. This marks a historic milestone that reflects the company's position as a global leader in innovation and customer experience following a significant transformation in 2024. The Intercontinental Group of Department Stores (IGDS) represents the world's most influential department store association, encompassing 44 leading stores across the world.

‘The Most Innovative Department Store in the World’ award recognizes department stores that demonstrate outstanding innovation across all aspects of retail business, serving as an inspiration to the retail industry through distinctive and unique concepts. This global competition is open to department stores worldwide, and Central Chidlom's achievement represents a significant international success for both Central Retail and Thailand.

Central Chidlom’s transformation into ‘The Store of Bangkok’ is built upon four defining pillars: The Store of Curation, offering selected global and local brands and exclusive labels; The Store of Design, showcasing a creatively envisioned space; The Store of Excellent Services, delivering personalized care; and The Store of Community, serving as a lifestyle destination for all generations. This transformation sets a new standard for Thai department stores on the global stage, seamlessly integrating the offline and online worlds.

From left - Yeonah Choi, CMO North Asia of L’Oréal Luxe Division and Natira Boonsri, CEO of Central Department Store Group

“We are truly honoured and deeply proud that Central Chidlom has been recognised by IGDS as ‘The Most Innovative Department Store in the World.’ This award reflects our strong commitment to putting customers at the centre of everything we do, in every dimension. The transformation of Central Chidlom, completed in December 2024, brings to life our vision of creating a department store experience that goes beyond expectations. This achievement would not have been possible without the dedication, creativity, and inspiration of our entire team. They are the true driving force behind the innovations that led to this recognition. This is not only a proud moment for Central Department Store Group, under Central Retail, but also a meaningful milestone for Thailand on the global stage — one that showcases our potential to lead and inspire the international department store industry.” — Mrs. Natira Boonsri, CEO, Central Department Store Group

From left – Timo Weber, CEO of KaDeWe GmbH; Rvisra Chirathivat, CMO of Central Department Store Group; Leonie Foster, COO of Selfridges & Co; Donald McDonald, CEO of Brown Thomas Arnotts; Michelle Curtin, Personal Shopping Manager of Brown Thomas; Natira Boonsri, CEO of Central Department Store Group; Yuwadee Chirathivat, Director / Member of the Executive Committee, Central Retail; André Maeder, CEO of Central Group Europe and Selfridges Group; Suthipak Chirathivat, Director of Central Pattana; Tapida Norpanlob, Omnichannel Merchandising Director of Central Department Store Group; Simone Heift, Chief Buying and Merchandising Officer of KaDeWe GmbH

From left - Werner Studer, Executive Director of IGDS; Jong Hwan Kim, Store Director of Lotte Store Jamsil; Fanya Chandler, President of Nordstrom Stores; Yeonah Choi, CMO North Asia of L’Oréal Luxe Division; Leonie Foster, COO of Selfridges & Co; André Maeder, CEO of Central Group Europe and Selfridges Group; Michelle Curtin, Personal Shopping Manager of Brown Thomas; Natira Boonsri, CEO of Central Department Store Group; Gabriele Chung, CEO of Lotte Department Store; Julius Carell, Head of Global Sales & Marketing at Enactor

Central Chidlom joins distinguished company amongst previous recipients of this prestigious award, including some of the world's most renowned department stores: KaDeWe in Berlin, Germany (2023), the multiple award-winning Selfridges in the United Kingdom (2018, 2014, 2012, 2010), Rinascente in Milan, Italy (2016), and Bloomingdale's in the United States (2008). Notably, three of these award-winning establishments—KaDeWe, Selfridges, and Rinascente are luxury European department stores within the Central Group portfolio, reinforcing Central's role as a global leader in department store innovation and demonstrating Thailand's genuine potential to drive the future of international retail.