7-Eleven Reveals Expansion Plans

Bangkok Post:

The retail chain C.P. Seven-Eleven Plc is speeding up the expansion of its Kudsan bakery, coffee shop and consumer-goods stores, as well as Book Smile outlets, to increase sales this year. At the same time, it wants to make 7-Eleven outlets different from rivals such as Tesco Lotus Express, Tops Daily and Mini Big C, which also plan to focus expansion closer to communities.

Piyawat Titasattavorakul, the company’s president, said it launched Book Smile bookstores beside 7-Eleven outlets two years ago with an aim to increase traffic at the convenience shops. The initiative lifted the sales capacity to more than 10,000 baht per day per branch.

Last year, the company opened four Kudsan stores, next door to 7-Eleven stores in Bang Na, Sukhumvit, Rangsit and on Phetchaburi Road, with a very good response. Mr Piyawat said the Kudsan outlets drove unexpected sales of around 12,000 baht per day, which was higher than for Book Smile.

Consequently, the firm plans to open another 12 Kudsan outlets this year, up from an earlier plan of eight. Each requires an investment of one million baht. It is expected that the number of Kudsan outlets will increase to 100 in the future.