Tops, a leading premium supermarket, has invested Bt100 million to revamp the look of its health and beauty zone. Renamed LOOKS, the first flagship beauty store has officially been launched at Tops Market on ground floor of Central Rama 3.

The concept of “Inspire the New You” will attract Gen Y customers. The beauty store provides a new alternative in lifestyle and caters to those taking care of their health and beauty. Customers can come to this all-in-one destination with its beauty and personal care products from leading brands from around the world. To celebrate the launch, up to 70 per cent discount is offered. Tops aims to introduce 10 more LOOKS stores by the end of this year.

Phattaraporn Phenpraphat, executive vice president of marketing and public relations, Central Food Retail Co Ltd said, “Beauty business continues to grow in Thailand as consumers of all ages and genders see the importance of taking care of their health and beauty.

Gen Y customers purchase beauty products more frequently, while working-age customers, above 35 years , spend more on health products. In 2017, the beauty industry was worth Bt57 billion, rising 3.8 per cent from the previous year and the market continues to expand.

At this flagship beauty store, you can change your looks with beauty items from famous brands. The store features more than 10,000 products, including a wide range of hair-care products from top hair salons.

Samsung launches newsroom in Thailand

Thai Samsung Electronics Co Ltd has announced the launch of an official Samsung Newsroom Thailand, which will offer local media, partners and consumers alike an easy acess to the company’s latest news and digital content.

Acessible at https://news.samsung.com/th/, the newsroom will serve as the go-to source for updates on Samsung’s activities in the country, as well as information on the company’s products, services, corporate vision, and much more.

Samsung Newsroom Thailand will feature a dedicated section for journalists to browse and download a wide range of press materials, including images, videos, and infographics. Going forward, all of Samsung’s press releases and related resources will be accessible via this repository.

Other available resources will include information on Samsung’s history, business lines, sustainability efforts, and general performance.

The website will also feature content offering consumers tips to help them get the most out of their Samsung devices, along with trend studies, explanatory videos, and articles written by tech experts. In addition to housing a wide array of valuable resources, the newsroom will feature livestreams of important industry events and global product launches.

Access to the website will be free, with no need to create an account.

Chicken wing lovers get a Tuesday surprise

KFC has announced its Tuesday Special. Customers can grab a delicious set of 19 Wings Zaab (juicy and spicy wings) for just Bt199. They can also purchase two large french fries at a special price of Bt59 (from the regular price of Bt90). This irresistible deal is available on Tuesdays only, and valid for both dine-in and takeaway customers at participating KFC branches. This promotion runs from August 28 to 25 September 2018. Offer is limited.

The expansion is in line with the company’s commitment to continuous expansion in Thailand, especially in the secondary cities, according to its first Thai CEO, Sompong Rungnirattisai, who took up the top position six months ago.

The company yesterday officially opened its latest hypermarket, the Tesco Lotus Bangkruay-Sainoi store, which is the company’s 2,000th outlet in Thailand in all retail formats.

Sompong said that more than 1,000 workers would be recruited for the retail expansion this year. On average, between 150 and 200 will be employed at each of its large-scale hypermarkets, and about 15 each for the smaller Express outlets.

Tesco Lotus’ total retail floor space as of February is about 1,437,000 square metres. The company added about 38,000 of retail space to its portfolio last year. Thailand is Tesco Group’s largest international market outside the United Kingdom. Tesco’s regional CEO is based in the company’s office in Thailand.

“We have opened 45 stores so far this year, of which six are large-scale hypermarkets, one department store, one Talad Lotus, and 37 Tesco Lotus Express stores,” said Sompong.

“We have seen an improving economy this year with the highest-ever consumer confidence index in July compared with the past few years. We expect the overall economy in the second half of this year will be even better.”

Sompong said that there would be more positive signs of economic growth for next year, especially with the holding of a general election, which has been promised by the government for February. The government’s expenditure in the country’s infrastructure projects will translate into concrete results that simulate the economy further next year, he said.

He said that Thailand is still regarded by Tesco Lotus as a market that is yet to reach its full potential.

“Thailand is undergoing greater urbanisation and people are enjoying higher income per capita. These factors have encouraged growth for the retail sector,” he said.

Sompong said that for Tesco Lotus, the company is no longer focused on expanding the different retail formats as in the past, but favoured pursuit of an omnichannel sales strategy in a bid to reach individual customers anytime and anywhere.

“Today marks a very important milestone for Tesco Lotus, as we celebrate the grand opening of our 2,000th store in Thailand,” said Sompong.

“Tesco Lotus has operated in Thailand for more than 24 years and remains fully committed to the Thai economy. While continuing to expand both offline and online channels, Tesco Lotus strives to serve Thailand’s shoppers a little better every day by offering great quality products at affordable prices as well as fantastic shopping experiences.

“The Bangkruay-Sainoi store is the largest hypermarket opened in four years by supermarket sales floor space. The shopping mall boasts a well-balanced mix of shops and restaurants fit for the needs of our 4.0 era customers.”

Tesco Lotus Bangkruay-Sainoi occupies a total retail space of about 24,000 square metres. About 5,000 square metres are for the hypermarket, with 17,000 square metres for the shopping mall. The major anchor tenants are Index Living Mall, with 7,000 square metres, and Mr DIY, with 1,200 square metres.

“The Tesco Lotus Bangkruay-Sainoi store offers several services designed specifically with the 4.0 era customers in mind,” Sompong said. “We are introducing the Scan As You Shop technology at this store for a fun and convenient shopping experience. QR code payment is available at all cashiers, expediting cashless payments. The first ‘green lane’ is our express checkout lane for environmentally conscious customers who do not require plastic bags.

“Free Wi-Fi is available for customers throughout the hypermarket, shopping mall and food court area. Outside the store, a 1.2 km-bicycle lane is open to the public, as is the multi-purpose park for recreational activities and exercising to promote healthy living for local residents.

The 450 square metres of solar panels installed atop the parking roofs generate electricity that powers the entire food court inside.

“The recycling centre located outside the store helps make it easier for customers to recycle UHT cartons, paper waste, product packaging such as plastic pouches and foil sachets, and electronic waste. The recycling vending machine inside the store gives 50 green points for every plastic bottle or aluminium can recycled. We believe that these extra features will enhance the shopping experiences and well-being of our customers, while supporting local communities and the environment.”

The company now aims to achieve a new lending volume of Bt198.6 billion, a 20 per cent increase from the previous year, and outstanding loans of Bt378 billion, a 17 per cent year-on-year growth.

Krungsri Auto, the automotive finance branch under Bank of Ayudhya PCL, on Thursday announced its 2018 first-half results, with 31 per cent growth year on year in new lending, amounting to Bt102 billion.

Pairote said: “In the first half of 2018, Thailand’s automotive market grew consistently, especially new car sales, which saw higher increases than forecasted, and further fuels constant expansion of the automotive finance market.”

Krungsri Auto’s non-performing loan rate (NPL) is in line with the market average at 1.5 per cent, the firm said.

Set to open in Q4 2018, this will be the group’s first Dusit-branded property in Qatar.

The hotel is close to the Souq Waqif, Katara Cultural Village and the Pearl, and only a 25-minute drive from the Hamad International Airport.

The hotel has 261 rooms and suites and 96 hotel apartments.

“Qatar is set to host two of the world’s largest sporting events: the Fifa World Cup 2022, in which the country is expecting to host more than 1 million international visitors for the World Cup itself, and the World Athletic Championship in 2019 which serves as a right time for us to open Dusit Doha Hotel to welcome the organisers, sponsors and consultants who will be making Doha their home for the next few years. Dusit – being the first five-star hotel in Qatar with Thai culture and heritage, would enable the vast Thai experience to the valuable customers”, said Ahmed Mahdi Al Majed of the Al Majed Group.

“It’s an exciting time for Qatar and we’re delighted to announce the Dusit Doha Hotel, our second property with the Al Majed Group. The hotel will be designed keeping in mind the latest developments in the vibrant city, to resonate with both business and leisure travellers alike,” said Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO of Dusit International.

With 27 properties currently in operation across four brands in eight countries, Dusit International will see the number of Dusit properties reach over 50 within the next three to four years.

“Banks often think that to operate, having a business licence from the central bank is enough when in fact the licence to operate really comes from the public,” Piti said. “Our belief at TMB is that an organisation must do the right thing to be sustainable.”

To ensure social acceptance, the bank’s sustainability framework must cover all core areas: its organisation, industry, environment and society, he said.

In its organisational operations, the bank must support customers with technology and innovation and be sincere and transparent in addressing customers need for privacy as well as acquiring better IT systems, and better products and services, he said.

“Yes, we must continue to make profits, but customers must know when they pay fees,” Piti said. “To remain relevant to customers, banks must do better on what they are doing. That’s how we can win brand conviction.”

In term of environmental protection, TMB has started green lending some time ago and expects the support it recently received from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector lending arm of the World Bank, will allow it to expand its green lending portfolio and further encourage awareness in Thailand.

“The green bond issue, the first of its kind by a Thai commercial bank, underscores our commitment at TMB to drive business by implementing a sustainable business framework,” Piti said. “This also promotes private sector investment in renewable energy projects and energy efficiency, thereby helping to reduce global warming, beneficial to both the environment and the economy as a whole.”

The US$60 million (Bt1.85 billion) green bonds issued in June was entirely subscribed by the IFC. TMB will be using the proceeds to support smart climate projects and other environmentally friendly investments.

Green lending portfolio

TMB’s green lending portfolio currently stands at Bt8.5 billion ($280 million) and is expected to increase to Bt15 billion ($470) within the next 5 years. Customers include solar and other alternative energy projects, as well as the Yeh Group, a company that produce “DryDye” textile through a highly performant process that saves water and reduces energy and chemicals use by 50 per cent.

At the industry level, TMB like all banks have a duty to address important issues such as financial literacy and help address the high level of household debt and the insufficient level of household savings and investment, Piti said.

“This is a problem for the banking industry. We have to ask ourselves: Are we doing enough?” Piti said. “Digital technology can help unleash client’s potential when it comes to savings and investments.”

TMB contributes to driving common infrastructures, improving financial literacy and uplifting banking service standards through collaboration with the Thai Bankers’ Association.

For instance, TMB is the leader of the association’s financial literacy initiative, in which volunteers from member banks join force to train senior undergraduate students to instill them with money management and financial knowledge before they enter the workforce. More than 1,000 students participated in the training so far.

At the society level, TMB has initiated the “FAI-FAH” youth development programme to ignite ideas for change among the children from low-income families and encourage them to improve themselves, their families and their communities.

TMB also carries out community development for sustainability projects where employees work closely with communities around Thailand to promote quality of life.

During the past three years, more than 100 communities have benefited from these projects.

Piti was invited to address the inaugural Bangkok Sustainable Banking Forum, which the Bank of Thailand held recently.

“A number of welcoming developments are taking place in our financial sector. But, much more can be done and need to be done to foster an ecosystem that promotes overall sustainability,” Veerathai Santiprabhob, governor of the Bank of Thailand told the forum in his opening speech.

The project is centred on a property in Bangkok, Town Sukhumvit 77 (T77). As part of the plan, Sansiri plans to install solar panels on the roofs at the sprawling complex as well as at more than 30 other property projects over the next three years.

Uthai Uthaisangsuk, chief operating officer of Sansiri, said that BCPG and Sansiri had installed solar rooftop panels with blockchain-based energy trading technology in the trial at Town Sukhumvit 77.

The developer is promoting the project as offering “a complete array of lifestyle activities and residential options” on a plot of more than 50 rai in Sukhumvit Soi 77.

The system implementation, with official trading to start in September, comes with a total power generating capacity of 635 kW. Of this amount, 54 kW will be for Habito Mall, 413 kW for Bangkok Prep International School and 168 kW for Park Court Condominium.

In addition, Sansiri installed the system in its pre-cast factory with a capacity of 150 kW. By 2021, the company plans to install solar rooftop panels with blockchain-based energy trading in 31 new projects, with a total power generation capacity of 2 megawatts.

“The solar rooftop technology being implemented means it brings cheaper electricity bills than from traditional sources, as clean energy produced from all generating units will help Sansiri residents make savings on their electricity bills of 15 per cent per unit,” said Uthai.

“The residents will also be taking an active part in helping to reduce their carbon footprint with the use of clean energy locally produced for up to 20 per cent of the T77 community’s overall electricity.”

This will result in carbon dioxide emissions being reduced by approximately 530 tonnes per year, which is equal to the forestation of 400 rai.”

He said Sansiri is striving to create “a green sustainable living community with smart, eco-friendly energy-efficient initiatives by incessantly exploring new environmental technology”.

In pursuing the company’s strategy known as Energy Management for the Future, the firm is seeking to implement renewable energy initiatives in all its developments.

Under the strategic partnership with BCPG, the companies in the next stage will implement the platform for residential solar rooftop panels with blockchain-based, peer-to-peer energy trading. The platform will be tailored to suit each of Sansiri’s 20-plus condominium and single-house projects.

Bundit Sapianchai, president and chief executive officer of BCPG, said the firm will spend around Bt30 million to Bt50 million to lay down infrastructure and technology for the pilot project.

“This is aimed at creating a sustainable future with our various partners to provide electrical power from different renewable sources in the most efficient way with innovative and intelligent technology,” Bundit said.

“The pilot implementation of the blockchain-based electricity trading platform at T77 is being carried out in partnership with Sansiri and Power Ledger, the world’s leading pioneer in renewable energy trading platforms from Australia, for the first successful case of an energy trading platform in Southeast Asia.”

The pilot project at T77 is being implemented in four buildings, with a local energy storage and connection to the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA)’s power supply grid. Load profile and electricity generation capacity can vary from building to building.

In the initial stage, electricity produced from the solar rooftop of each building will be consumed in its own building, allowing it to use electricity at a lower price. Excess electricity can be traded in the platform. Energy exchanging is fractional-second process, during which energy is generated and consumed differently in each building. While some buildings can produce more than they consume, others may consume more than they produce.

Excess power from one building can be traded to another building that needs it on peer-to-peer platform, and if there’s still excess left, will be traded to the local energy storage. If the local storage is full, electricity will be transmitted to MEA’s grid. When needed, each building can purchase electricity on peer-to-peer platform from the local storage and MEA’s power grid, respectively. Blockchain technology helps process the right seller and buyer at fractional-second speed. Users can use BCPG’s trading application on both their computers and mobile phones.

David Martin, managing director and founder of Power Ledger, said that the firm has a vision to put the management of the energy economy into the hands of consumers.

It also aims to democratise power by bringing the benefits of our technology to consumers leading to lower power bills, better prices for excess renewable power, and use of cleaner energy, Martin said. Using blockchain technology, the energy trading system provides an automated market trading platform for residential and commercial businesses to sell their surplus energy to who they choose and at their chosen price.

The partnership with Sansiri and BCPG marks the company’s first move into Thailand and the Southeast Asian real estate industry.

DTAC TriNet (DTN), a subsidiary of Total Access Communication (DTAC), and Advanced Wireless Network (AWN), a subsidiary of Advanced Info Service (AIS), have been declared the bid winners. Each bid for one lot of a licence by proposing the same final total price of Bt12.511 billion.

The NBTC made available nine lots of the 1800MHz spectrum at the weekend auction. It will make an analysis report on how it should revise the auction rules governing the seven remaining lots for 1800MHz licences and the unsold 900MHz licence in order to woo more prospective bidders to step forward for them in the future. Takorn said that the starting bid prices of these unsold lots are unlikely to be lowered but the terms of payment for the upfront fees might be extended.

For example, the annual instalment payment period of the upfront fee of the unsold 1800MHz lots might be extended from five years to six, instead of the three years that applied under the auction rules on Sunday.

The NBTC will also see if it has to revise the conditions for the 900MHz auction rules, which some prospective bidders said would lead to their incurring operational risks and unpredictable costs. The auction conditions state that the winner of the 900 MHz licence is solely responsible for any and all interference on this 900MHz slot that may rise from the portion of the band allocated for proposed railway projects.

Once finished, the NBTC will present all the material from the analysis at a public hearing.

The NBTC will also carry out analysis on whether it should stand firm on its decision to assign the 900MHz band to the proposed high-speed train project or assign other bands to the project instead.

In a related matter, DTAC has asked the NBTC to consider granting a remedy period to the company.

DTAC currently uses 25MHz of the 1800MHz spectrum to provide services under a concession from CAT Telecom. As DTAC TriNet and AWN each won the right to use 5MHz of this same band from the Sunday auction, DTAC has asked the regulator to grant the remedy period to cover the remaining 15MHz for it after the CAT concession ends on September 15.

The remedy period refers to the duration the NBTC would allow telecom operators to continue using existing spectra to offer services on an interim basis after their concession ends. This is to give them time to migrate all customers to other networks.

CAT has granted this 25MHz of 1800MHz to DTAC. The NBTC reclaimed this band and put it in the auction on Sunday.

The NBTC’s telecom subcommittee will look into DTAC’s request next week. Takorn said that the case should be determined before September 15.

Philippe Broianigo, chief executive officer of Central Group Vietnam and Big C Vietnam, said that Central Group is the largest foreign retailer in Vietnam, with five core business units: Big C Shopping Mall, Food Store, Fashion Store, Hardline Store, and Online Platform providing omnichannel and e-commerce services.

Central Group Vietnam recently launched a series of new branded retail initiatives, such as Look Cool, Hello Beauty and HomeMart DIY.

“We (Central Group) have already invested US$1.5 billion in Vietnam since 2012 and plan to invest another US$500 million in the next five years, from 2018 to 2022. Store penetration year to date in total is 250 stores nationwide and we plan to reach 720 stores in the next five years, or by 2022,” Broianigo said.

He said that the company’s employees in Vietnam now number more than 17,000, serving over 175,000 customers a day.

Central Group Vietnam (CGV) is a member of Central Group, which was established in Vietnam in July 2011. The group’s business activities in Vietnam range from electronics, sports, fashion, shopping centres and hotels to e-commerce and supermarkets.

Central Group’s 250 stores cover in Vietnam cover more than 700,000 square feet in more than 37 provinces and cities. Of these stores, there are: 31 Big C shopping malls; 35 Big C hypermarkets; 25 Lanchi Mart outlets; 50 fashion stores under the Robins, DELALA, Supersports, and Marks & Spencer brands; 56 Nguyen Kim electronics stores; more than 40 stores of the new retail concepts such as LookKool, C-express, B2S, Hello Beauty; and three online platforms, NguyenKim.vn, Robins.vn and B2S.com.vn

“The digital lifestyle has played a vital role in the rapid growth of the country’s developments in its economy, infrastructure, and education, and this has resulted in increased domestic household income,” said Broianigo.

“So, the key challenge is the speed and the need to truly understand Vietnamese consumers’ behaviour and culture. Central Group Vietnam is looking for only the best to serve Vietnam customers across all formats, both offline to online, to meet their needs.”

Broianigo said that the company’s sales in Vietnam grew by double digits in the first six months of this year compared with the same period of last year. The firm expects to achieve an even greater performance in the second half of this year.

Central Group in Thailand yesterday announced the hosting of Vietnamese Goods and Tourism Week in Thailand 2018, an event being organised by the Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade and Central Group, in cooperation with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Being held in the CentralWorld shopping complex in Bangkok, the fair was officially opened yesterday and lasts until August 26.

This is the third year in a row that the event has been held in Bangkok. Besides promoting Vietnamese goods, tourism is also highlighted in this year’s programme, with input from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Do Thang Hai, Vietnam’s deputy minister of industry and trade, said at the opening ceremony that in the recent years the Vietnamese government has constantly opened up opportunities for local businesses to further expand their network overseas – and Thailand is regarded as among the promising markets.

The trade show is the critical activity within this framework, the deputy minister said.

For Vietnamese goods to be exported into distribution network of Central Group, Central Group Vietnam has cooperated with the Ministry of Industry and Trade in conducting market research, selecting enterprises and organising training courses to improve the capacity and quality of goods, as well as supporting the development of customised products to suit the Thai market.

Thai Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong said that Thailand and Vietnam have had continuous relations for more than 42 years. These relations have not been just diplomatic, but also strongly involved with economics, trade, investment, culture, education and tourism.

For trade in particular, the two countries have long exchanged goods and services, with trade volumes increasing every year. The Thai private sector has also been continually ready to invest in Vietnam’s trade, such as Central Group’s investment in various Vietnamese businesses, and the importation of Vietnamese products for sale in Thailand. This has enabled Thais to get to know Vietnam better, causing increasing circulation between the two countries. The government has set a target that the volume of two-way trade should top US$20 billion.

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Besides this, the two countries have mutually promoted tourism, with a rising number of Thai tourists favoring Vietnam because of the country’s natural beauty, distinctive culture and unique cuisine, which Thais find delicious. At the beginning of this year, the number of Thai tourists visiting Vietnam rose by 9.2 percent on the same period last year. The Vietnamese government’s vision of increasing visitor arrivals to 17-20 million by 2020 is now bearing fruit, while not less than 1 million Vietnamese tourists come to Thailand every year, a number also increasing annually. These factors have driven the economies of both countries to create rapid growth. This Vietnamese Goods and Tourism Week in Thailand 2018 is thus a portent to extend trade and tourism relations between the two countries to be stronger than ever.