Phuket's second big Tesco opens for business

PHUKET: Shoppers in the northern part of the island rejoiced when the new Tesco Lotus Thalang held its grand opening today (October 6).

Thursday 6 October 2011, 10:03AM

Ready for business: Check-out clerks at the new Tesco Lotus.

Tesco gave B1,000 education grants to 100 local schoolchildren.

Tesco also gave B1.2 million to the provinces drive to wipe out plastic bags.

Tesco Lotus Thailand Chairman Sunthorn Arunanindchai speaks at the opening.

Guest of honour was Phuket Deputy Governor Chaiwat Taephee.

Located on Thepkrasattri Road near Thalang Hospital, the new superstore covers an area of 44 rai, and has the capacity to cater for up to 35,000 customers per day.

Deputy Governor (Palad) Chaiwat Taephee and Tesco Lotus Chairman Sunthorn Arunanondchai presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the B500 million shopping centre, which took 10 months to build.

Thailand’s 95th branch of Tesco Lotus has some 17,000 square metres of retail space, including 5,935 square metres available for shop rental.

The food court alone consists of 28 stalls and 366 seats; with another 99 shops on premises, including standalone restaurants, book stores, banks and more. There is parking for 717 cars and 452 motorbikes.

Mr Sunthorn said Phuket is an important market for Tesco Lotus, as it is the country’s only island province, and attracts more than 1 million Thai and foreign tourists every year.

He also remarked that the strong economic development of Phuket is forecast to continue over the next fiscal year and beyond.

“We see the opening of Tesco Lotus Thalang as an important part of our company strategy, and as helping to support the development of Phuket province.”

Mr Sunthorn added that he estimates the company will pay about B12 million per year in VAT to government, provincial and Tambon Thepkrasattri administrations.

Tesco Lotus will also provide jobs for the local community, directly employing about 270 people.

Mr Sunthorn said that the Thalang branch would be the first on the island to provide 20 square metres of space for free (normally worth B35,000 per month) for the display of Phuket-made OTOP products.

Initial projections are for 15,000 customers a day, with a 70:30 ration between Thais and foreigners.

Showing off its concern for the environmental, Tesco Lotus has kept 30 per cent of the site as green area for carbon offset.

–Apinya Saksri