Big C

Big C (Thai: บิ๊กซี ซูเปอร์เซ็นเตอร์), is a grocery and general merchandising retailer headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand.[5] Big C is as of 2016 Thailand's second-largest hypermarket operator after Tesco Lotus's Thai unit.[6] It has operations in four countries, namely Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

For other uses, see Big C (disambiguation).
Big C Supercenter PLC
Public
Traded asSET: BJC
ISINTH0280010016 
IndustryRetail
Founded1993 (1993)[1]
FounderCentral Group
HeadquartersBangkok, Thailand
Area served
Thailand, Vietnam, Laos
Key people
Mr. Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, Chairman
Mr. Aswin Techajareonvikul, CEO[2]
ProductsDiscount Stores, Grocery Stores, Hypermarkets
Revenue140 billion baht (2018)[3]
6,976 million baht (FY2013)
Number of employees
27,000[4]:14
ParentT.C.C Group (Thailand, Laos)
Central Group & Nguyen Kim Group (Vietnam)
Websitebigc.co.th TH
bigc.vn VN

The company was founded by Central Group in 1993 and the first Big C opened on Chaengwattana Road in Bangkok in 1994,[1] prior to the company becoming listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) in 1995. As of 2019 Big C operates 153 hypermarkets, 63 Big C markets, and 1,018 Mini Big C stores.[3]

History
Big C Supercenter Ratchadamri in the Pathum Wan District of Bangkok.

Beginning

Central Group opened the Central Superstore at the Wong Sawang intersection in 1993 as a Central Department Store subsidiary. It began selling groceries from Central Supermarket and private label clothing from Central Department Store and Central Trading, under the self-service store concept. The Big C brand was first launched on 15 January 1994, the name being an abbreviation of "Big Central". The first Big C store was opened on Chaengwattana Road in Bangkok.

1990s

Save One Rangsit was changed to the Big C Supercenter in 1995, and was the chain's first store outside Bangkok. The same year, Central Superstore Company Limited changed its name to Big C Supercenter Public Company Limited, and was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) (SET: BIGC) with S.K. Garment PLC holding a majority stake.

Big C launched the single floor store concept at Bangphlee in 1996, integrating a super center 12,000 m2 floor space and a layout and decor to facilitate shopping. The efficient design contributed to lower operating costs.

Merger with Groupe Casino

After the Asian financial crisis of 1997, Big C Supercenter PCL formed a business alliance with France-based Groupe Casino, known for its Géant stores. Groupe Casino bought 530 million shares of a capital increase in 1999, making them the largest shareholder after the company's recapitalization. After securing the controlling stake in Big C, Groupe Casino sold Big C's garment business in order to concentrate only on retail activity to strengthen the efficiency of the operation.

2000s

Big C extended its business hours from 08:00 to midnight daily and launched the Big C website in 2000. Two years later, Big C launched a hard-discount supermarket chain, "Leader Price by Big C", an affiliate store similar to the Leader Price brand of Groupe Casino. In the same year, Big C launched its first credit card, "Big C Credit Card", and "Big C Hire-Purchase". Big C Foundation (Thai: มูลนิธิบิ๊กซี) was also launched in 2002, with its main objectives including providing necessary assistance and support for children in terms of education, and offering opportunities for education to those suffering as a result of social abuses or the drug trade.[7]

Big C Dao Khanong at night

Big C developed and expanded the "Compact Store" store concept in 2005. Compact Stores each require an investment of between 300 and 400 million baht, and have an average retail space of 5,000-6,000 square metres, whereas Big C's standard stores have retail space of about 10,000 square metres and require an investment of between 600-700 million baht.[8] In May 2005, the "Big C Shopper Card" was launched, which was a hire-purchase card.

In 2006, Leader Price by Big C was remodeled into "Mini Big C" (Thai: มินิบิ๊กซี), a proximity store format offering 24-hour service. Big C launched yet another new brand store format in July 2010 called "Big C Junior" (Thai: บิ๊กซี จูเนียร์), which is sized midway between a compact store and a supermarket.

Big C Dao Khanong (standard store format)

Global branding

"Big C" was used for the first time outside Thailand at the end of 2003, with the rebranding of three Cora hypermarkets in Vietnam. The stores were owned by Vindemia, a Groupe Bourbon company in Réunion. Casino took control of Vindemia, and the Big C Supercenter banner is used for these stores.

Big C in Vietnam

In 2010, Big C announced in Thailand that it would open its first store in Laos, inside The New Taladsao Shopping Mall in Vientiane, in late 2012.[9][10][11][12]

Carrefour acquisition

In November 2010, Big C won a bid to buy the 42 Carrefour branches in Thailand for €868 million (35.4 billion baht). After the acquisition, Groupe Casino, whose Thai subsidiary is Big C Supercenter PCL, owned 111 hypermarkets versus Tesco's 87. However, if other retail formats are included, Tesco is larger with some 704 stores nationwide.[13]

Big C and Carrefour branches in Thailand had their first co-promotion in January 2011, before Carrefour Thailand stores were rebranded as Big C. And in March 2011, Carrefour Suwintawong was the first Carrefour store to be rebranded as a Big C.

Ownership under Thai Charoen Corporation

Groupe Casino SA agreed in February 2016 to sell its stake in Thai hypermarket operator Big C for €3.1 billion (US$3.46 billion) to Thai billionaire, Mr Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi. His holding company, TCC Group, will buy Casino's 58.6% stake in Big C Thailand for 252.88 baht a share (US$7.10), a price that values Big C close to US$5.86 billion. The sale, expected to completed by 31 March, will allow Casino to reduce its debt level by €3.3 billion. The retailer launched a €4 billion deleveraging plan in 2016 which included selling its stake in Big C as well as Vietnam retail assets.[6]

Store formats
  • Big C Supercenter (Thai: บิ๊กซี ซูเปอร์เซ็นเตอร์) A Big C Supercenter is a hypermarket targeting mid-to-low income customers offering value through combination of low prices, wide selection, clean and efficient shopping environment, and good service.[4]:10 There are 105 Big C Supercenters in Thailand as of 2016.[14]
  • Big C Extra (Thai: บิ๊กซี เอ็กซ์ตร้า) is a hypermarket targeting mid- to high-income customers. It offers a wider range of premium fresh and dry food items, imported products, and wine than a Big C Supercenter.[4]:10. There are 15 Big C Extra stores in Thailand (2016).[15]
  • Big C Plaza (Thai: บิ๊กซี พลาซา) is a Plaza Style, under Big C Rama 4 Renovation New Building
  • Big C Foodplace (Thai: บิ๊กซี ฟู้ดเพลส) is a supermarket The first branch is Gateway at Bang Sue. Opening 30 November 2018 and Next, Big C Foodplace new branch is Samyan Mitrtown Open 24 hours. Opening 20 September 2019
Big C Market Logo
  • Big C Market (Thai: บิ๊กซี มาร์เก็ต) is a supermarket format, targeting mid- to low-income customer. The smaller size of a Big C Market enables penetration in areas outside the main district of a province. It is designed to be the largest modern retailer in its service area. The stores differ from traditional supermarkets that concentrate mainly on food by offering a range of products from fresh food to electronics.[4]:10 As of 2016, there are 31 Big C Markets scattered around Thailand.[16]
  • Mini Big C (Thai: มินิบิ๊กซี) Mini Big C is a "proximity store" format targeting mid- to low-income customers. Mini Big C stores carry a larger assortment than typical convenience stores and offer selected promotional items.[4]:11 The average size of a Mini Big C store is around 80–250 m2, open 24/7. There are 394 Mini Big C stores in Thailand (2016).[17]
  • Pure by Big C (Thai: เพียว บาย บิ๊กซี) is a drugstore format offering pharmaceutical, health, beauty, and wellness products. Most of Pure drugs, Promotion, Blond Kid, ores are in Big C hypermarkets and Big C Markets.[4]:11 There are 134 Pure outlets in Thailand (2016).[18]

Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam stores

Cambodia

Big C opened its first Cambodian store in Poipet on 4 December 2019. The company invested 300 million baht to build Big C Poipet on 20 rai. The hypermarket is 8,000 m2, with 3,000 m2 of sales area and rental space of 5,000 m2. Big C plans to open five or six Big C hypermarket stores in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap over the next two years.[3]

Laos
  • Vientiane location: inside the Talat Sao Shopping Mall. Not yet opened as of May 2017. Forty-one M-Point Mart stores were rebranded to Mini Big C in June 2019.

Vietnam
  • Big C has 35 stores throughout Vietnam.[19] Berli Jucker, which owns a majority stake in Big C Supercenter, will invest one billion baht in 2020 to open three MM Mega Market wholesale stores in Vietnam next year, bringing the total number of MM Mega Market stores there to 21 branches.[3]
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References
  1. "History". Big C. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  2. "Message from the Chairman". Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  3. Jitpleecheep, Pitsinee (5 December 2019). "Big C spreading hypermarkets around". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  4. Big C; Annual and CSR Report 2014 (PDF). Bangkok: Big C. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  5. "About Big C IR Home". Archived from the original on 2016-01-15. Retrieved 2015-08-14.
  6. Kostov, Nick (2016-02-07). "Groupe Casino to sell stake in Thai grocer Big C". MarketWatch. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  7. "About Big C Foundataion". Archived from the original on 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2012-07-09.
  8. "BigC Compact Stores News". The Nation. Archived from the original on 2008-01-28. Retrieved 2005-11-10.
  9. Big C (22 September 2011). "Clarifying news regarding investment in Lao" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-19. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
  10. "Big C to open shopping complex in Vientiane". National Authority for Science and Technology of Laos. Archived from the original on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2011-08-05.
  11. "Big C To Open Shopping Complex At New Talat Sao Mall". J&C Expat Services. Archived from the original on 2011-10-15. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
  12. "บิ๊กซี"ทุ่มปักธง บุกค้าปลีกลาว โกย500ล้าน/ปี. Prachachart Business (in Thai). 22 September 2011. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  13. "Big C wins bid to buy 42 Carrefour branches". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
  14. "Big C Stores". Big C Supercenter. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  15. "Big C Extra Stores". Big C Supercenter. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  16. "Big C Market Stores". Big C Supercenter. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  17. "Mini Big C". Big C Supercenter. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  18. "Pure by Big C". Big C Supercenter. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  19. "Your Nearest Store". Big C Supercenter. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
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