Big C
Thai grocery and general-merchandising retail chain operating hypermarkets, supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and related formats.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Big C is a Thai grocery and general-merchandising retailer headquartered in Bangkok. The chain serves customers through large hypermarkets, smaller supermarkets, urban food stores, proximity outlets and pharmacy locations. Its core proposition combines food, household necessities, apparel, consumer goods and selected services in a value-oriented retail environment, with different store formats aimed at lower- and middle-income shoppers, urban customers and more affluent consumers seeking imported or premium products. The business originated within Central Group. In 1993, Central opened a self-service Central Superstore that combined groceries from Central Supermarket with clothing and merchandise supplied through other Central businesses. The Big C name was introduced on 15 January 1994, initially referring to “Big Central.” The brand’s later interpretation emphasized a large shopping area, broad product selection and service to customers. Its first store opened on Chaengwattana Road in Bangkok, and the chain expanded beyond the capital in 1995 when the Save One Rangsit store was converted to the Big C format. Big C developed its operating model during a period of rapid change in Thailand’s retail sector. In 1995, Central Superstore Company changed its name to Big C Supercenter Public Company Limited and entered the Stock Exchange of Thailand. Following the Asian financial crisis, Groupe Casino of France became a major strategic investor in 1999. Casino’s involvement shifted the business toward a more focused retail model, including the disposal of the garment business and the introduction of formats and initiatives influenced by Casino’s international operations. The company broadened its offer during the 2000s. It extended opening hours, launched an online presence, introduced the Leader Price by Big C hard-discount concept, created credit and hire-purchase services, and established the Big C Foundation to support children’s education and assistance programs. Smaller store concepts were developed to reduce investment requirements and reach additional communities. Leader Price by Big C was rebranded as Mini Big C in 2006, while the Big C Junior format was introduced in 2010. A major turning point came in 2010–2011, when Big C acquired Carrefour’s 42-store Thai operation for approximately €868 million. The former Carrefour stores were progressively converted to Big C locations, substantially expanding the chain’s Thai hypermarket network. Big C subsequently operated multiple formats, including standard hypermarkets, Big C Extra stores for a broader and more premium assortment, compact and urban supermarkets, Mini Big C proximity stores, Pure pharmacies and wholesale-oriented locations. Ownership changed again in 2016, when Groupe Casino agreed to sell its stake in Big C Thailand to the TCC Group associated with Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi. Management and operations were placed under Berli Jucker, a TCC Group company. Big C remains an active retail business under this ownership structure. Its later development has included expansion and format experimentation in Thailand, the rebranding of stores in Laos, new operations in Cambodia, the transition of Vietnamese stores toward Central Group’s GO! branding, and entry into Hong Kong through the acquisition of AbouThai in 2023. The brand’s principal market remains Thailand. At the end of 2022, its Thai network included hypermarkets, Big C Extra stores, Foodplace urban supermarkets, Mini Big C proximity outlets, Pure pharmacies and other formats. Big C also has operations or rebranding activity in Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Hong Kong. In 2023, the company announced plans for a possible dual listing in Thailand and Hong Kong, but postponed its planned return to the Thai stock market amid unfavorable market and political conditions.
History
Big C began as a Central Group supermarket initiative. Central opened a Central Superstore in 1993, using self-service retail to combine groceries with clothing and general merchandise supplied by Central businesses. The Big C brand was introduced on 15 January 1994, and its first branded store opened on Chaengwattana Road in Bangkok. In 1995, the Save One Rangsit store became the first Big C outside Bangkok. That year, Central Superstore Company was renamed Big C Supercenter Public Company Limited and became a listed company in Thailand. After the Asian financial crisis, Big C formed a strategic relationship with Groupe Casino. Casino acquired a large shareholding in 1999 and became the controlling shareholder after a recapitalization. The business disposed of its garment operations and concentrated on retail. During the following decade, Big C extended store hours, launched an online presence, introduced a Leader Price discount format, created customer credit and hire-purchase products, and established the Big C Foundation to support children’s education and social assistance. Big C also refined its physical formats. Compact stores were developed in the mid-2000s with smaller floors and lower investment requirements than standard hypermarkets. Leader Price by Big C became Mini Big C in 2006, creating a proximity format with extended or round-the-clock service. Big C Junior was introduced in 2010 as an intermediate-sized store. The company also expanded outside Thailand: the Big C name was applied to former Cora stores in Vietnam in 2003, and the business later announced and developed operations in Laos. The purchase of Carrefour’s Thai business was one of the company’s most important expansion steps. In November 2010, Big C won the bid for Carrefour’s 42 Thai branches. A joint promotion followed in early 2011, and the former Carrefour locations were progressively rebranded as Big C. The acquisition increased Big C’s hypermarket scale and intensified competition with Tesco Lotus and other Thai retailers. A later legal dispute with the Lotus’s operator concerned the use of Carrefour coupons and resulted in a 2013 court award to Big C. In 2016, Groupe Casino sold its controlling stake in Big C Thailand to TCC Group for approximately €3.1 billion. The retailer thereafter operated under the ownership environment of Thai Charoen Corporation, with Berli Jucker responsible for management and operations. Big C continued to diversify its formats, including Big C Extra for a wider imported and premium assortment, Big C Foodplace for urban customers, Pure pharmacies, and Big C Depot wholesale stores. International expansion continued in neighboring markets. Laos saw M-Point Mart stores converted to Mini Big C in 2019, while Cambodia received its first Big C hypermarket in Poipet the same year and its first Mini Big C stores in Phnom Penh in 2021. In Cambodia, Big C also acquired the Kiwi Mart network in 2022. In Vietnam, Big C stores were owned by Central Group and were scheduled for transition toward the GO! banner. In Hong Kong, Big C acquired AbouThai in August 2023, creating a platform for further expansion. The company considered acquiring Tesco Lotus in 2020 but withdrew from the process, and in 2023 postponed a proposed relisting because of market conditions.
- 2023
Hong Kong entry and postponed relisting
[1]Big C acquires AbouThai in Hong Kong and postpones its proposed return to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
- 2021
Mini Big C enters Phnom Penh
[1]Big C opens its first Mini Big C locations in Cambodia.
- 2019
Expansion in Laos and Cambodia
[1]M-Point Mart stores in Laos are rebranded as Mini Big C, and Big C opens its first Cambodian hypermarket in Poipet.
- 2016
TCC Group acquires Groupe Casino stake
[1]TCC Group acquires Groupe Casino's controlling interest, with Berli Jucker taking responsibility for management and operations.
- 2010
Big C announces and wins Carrefour Thailand acquisition
[1]Big C agrees to purchase Carrefour's 42 Thai stores for approximately €868 million.
- 2006
Leader Price becomes Mini Big C
[1]The hard-discount affiliate format is converted into the Mini Big C proximity-store brand.
- 2002
Discount, financial-service and foundation initiatives
[1]Big C launches Leader Price by Big C, its first credit card and hire-purchase service, and the Big C Foundation.
- 1999
Groupe Casino becomes a major shareholder
[1]Casino acquires shares in a recapitalization and becomes Big C's controlling shareholder.
- 1995
First store outside Bangkok
[1]Save One Rangsit is converted into a Big C Supercenter, while the company adopts the Big C Supercenter name and lists in Thailand.
- 1994
Big C brand launches
[1]The Big C name is introduced and the first branded store opens on Chaengwattana Road in Bangkok.
Products and positioning
Value-oriented grocery and general-merchandising retailer with a multi-format network spanning mass-market hypermarkets, convenience-oriented stores, urban supermarkets, premium food locations, pharmacies and wholesale outlets.
Hypermarket · 1994
Big C Supercenter
The core mass-market hypermarket format, combining groceries, fresh food, household supplies, clothing and general merchandise. It is positioned toward mid- and lower-income customers and uses large stores to provide broad assortment and value-oriented promotions.
Premium hypermarket
Big C Extra
A higher-end hypermarket format with a wider range of fresh and dry foods, imported products, wine and other premium merchandise than the standard Big C Supercenter.
Proximity retail · 2006
Mini Big C
A small-format neighborhood store that carries more products than a typical convenience shop, including groceries, household items and selected promotional merchandise. Thai locations generally operate around the clock and target mid- to lower-income consumers.
Urban supermarket
Big C Foodplace
An urban supermarket format focused on ready-to-eat meals, organic and health-oriented foods, imported products and convenience for city shoppers. It is positioned toward more affluent urban customers.
Pharmacy and wellness
Pure by Big C
A pharmacy and health-and-beauty format selling medicines, personal-care goods, wellness products and related merchandise. Many Pure outlets are located within or beside Big C stores.
Wholesale
Big C Depot
A wholesale-oriented format aimed at hospitality, restaurant and catering customers. It developed from parts of the former Big C Market network and serves professional buyers as well as larger-volume shoppers.
Premium supermarket and food hall
Big C Marché
A premium supermarket concept offering imported foods, fresh and dry products, restaurant-style meals, a grill-bar service and an international wine and alcohol selection.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Big C–Carrefour transition promotion
Thailand
Big C and Carrefour conducted a joint promotion before Carrefour's Thai stores were converted to the Big C banner following the acquisition.
Outcome. The former Carrefour network was progressively rebranded as Big C.
Brand decisions
2023
Acquire AbouThai in Hong KongM&ABackground
Big C sought to establish a larger presence in Hong Kong through an existing Thai-oriented retail network.
Action taken
The company acquired 24 AbouThai stores and began converting them to the Big C brand.
Aftermath
Big C announced an ambition to expand its Hong Kong network to 100 locations by 2026.
2023
Postpone planned stock-market relistingStrategyBackground
Big C had announced plans for a return to the Stock Exchange of Thailand and a possible dual listing in Hong Kong.
Action taken
The company postponed the planned listing process.
Aftermath
The postponement was attributed to market conditions and political uncertainty following Thailand's 2023 election deadlock.
2020
Consider acquisition of Tesco Lotus operationsM&ABackground
The sale of Tesco's Thai and Malaysian operations created a possible route for further regional scale.
Action taken
Big C and TCC Group submitted or considered a bid but did not complete the acquisition after pandemic-related financial difficulties.
Aftermath
CP Group acquired the assets, which were subsequently rebranded as Lotus's.
2016
Transfer ownership from Groupe Casino to TCC GroupM&ABackground
Groupe Casino pursued debt reduction and agreed to sell its controlling Thai retail investment.
Action taken
TCC Group acquired Groupe Casino's 58.6% stake in Big C Thailand, with Berli Jucker taking operational responsibility.
Aftermath
Big C became part of the TCC Group retail portfolio and continued operating under Berli Jucker's management.
Transaction value. approximately €3.1 billion (2016)
2010
Acquire Carrefour's Thai operationsM&ABackground
Carrefour placed its Thai branch network up for sale, creating an opportunity to expand Big C's hypermarket footprint.
Action taken
Big C won the bid for 42 Carrefour branches in Thailand.
Aftermath
The stores were progressively converted to Big C locations, significantly enlarging the company's Thai network.
Acquisition price. approximately €868 million (2010)
- Lotus's — The acquisition intensified competition between Big C and Lotus's in Thailand.
1999
Accept Groupe Casino investment and focus on retailM&ABackground
Following the Asian financial crisis, Big C sought a strategic relationship with Groupe Casino.
Action taken
Casino acquired a large shareholding during a recapitalization. Big C subsequently sold its garment business and concentrated on retail operations.
Aftermath
Casino became the controlling shareholder and contributed international retail expertise and formats.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Big C partners with Chopp for online grocery delivery in Ho Chi Minh City[2]
Big C partnered with Chopp to launch online grocery delivery in Ho Chi Minh City, with customers able to shop for Big C products through the Chopp app or website.
Sources2 sources
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