Family Mart opens 100th Phuket store

PHUKET: The Family Mart franchise officially opened its 100th convenience store in Phuket on Saturday (November 23) in front of Central Festival Phuket on Chalerm Phra Kiat Road, revealing the retail chain’s brand new look.

SiamFamilyMart CEO Mr Nath Vongpanich (standing, 4th from right) with representatives of the Family Mart chain’s top-selling product brands and store staff at the official opening of Phuket’s 100th Family Mart store on Saturday (November 23) at Central Festival Phuket.

SiamFamilyMart CEO Mr Nath Vongpanich said the new store covers 60 square metres and was constructed at a cost of B2 million.

“We have plans for more than 30 new stores in tourist spots in Phuket, Samui and Krabi in 2014,” said Mr Vongpanich.

Central Retail Corporation (CRC) acquired a controlling interest in SiamFamilyMart Co., Ltd in October 2012. The joint venture, which already operates more than 700 stores throughout the country, includes plans to open a total of 1,000 branches by the end of the year, and a total of 3,000 branches by 2017.

The Family Mart franchise was started in Japan in 1981 and became the country's third-largest convenience store chain, expanding over the past 30 years to the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, China and Thailand.