Supermarket group sharpens targeting

Supermarket giant Central Food Retail (CFR) has embarked on an 80 million baht (US$2.1m) revamp of its supermarket and food service brands to better segment its Thai operations.

Tops Supermarket will be rebranded Tops Super, Market Place to Tops Market, and City Market to Central Food Hall, coinciding with CFR's planned entry into the convenience store sector.

The UK's Fitch consultancy is creating the store concept and design, which will see Tops Super target regular local shoppers, the middle class and working women, with Tops Market repositioned to capture upper income customers.

Central Food Hall, meanwhile, will be revamped as a 'destination food store' offering premium gourmet products. A CFR spokesperson said the company would soon launch a new range of convenience stores — Tops Daily — targeting middle class customers. "Unlike competitors, Tesco Express and 7-Eleven, these stores will offer a complete range of fresh food and grocery while also providing a place for a quick, proper meal," he said.