Tops
Tops is a Thai grocery retail brand operated by Central Food Retail, with supermarket, premium food hall, specialty grocery, convenience, and shopping-center formats.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Tops is a grocery retail brand in Thailand operated by Central Food Retail, a subsidiary of Central Retail Corporation within Central Group. The business was established in 1996 as CRC Ahold Co., Ltd., combining the supermarket activities of Robinson Department Store and Central Group in a joint venture with Royal Ahold, the Netherlands-based retail group. The venture used the Tops name associated with Ahold’s United States supermarket holding, Tops Markets, although the Thai stores did not reuse the American chain’s red diamond logo. The first Tops supermarket opened at Royal City Avenue. During the late 1990s, Robinson progressively sold its investment in the venture to Ahold. In 2004, Ahold disposed of its interest to Central as part of its withdrawal from Asian markets, leaving the Thai operation under Central ownership. That same year, Central converted 20 former Food Lion stores into Tops outlets after Delhaize Group ended its supermarket operations in Thailand. The brand has since developed a multi-format retail network rather than operating only conventional supermarkets. Its formats include the standard Tops supermarket, Tops Food Hall for premium grocery shopping, Tops Fine Food for higher-tier food retail, Tops Daily convenience stores, and Tops Plaza shopping-center locations that can combine retail, department-store, and cinema facilities. Tops Food Hall has received international retail attention, including recognition by The Canadian Grocer in a list of grocery stores considered worth visiting globally. Tops is described as Thailand’s largest supermarket chain and operates 235 stores nationwide according to the referenced Wikipedia material. Its assortment is centered on everyday groceries and food, with premium and imported products emphasized in selected formats. Tops Daily serves smaller neighborhood locations, generally occupying approximately 100 to 200 square meters. In 2023, after Central’s franchise agreement with FamilyMart ended, approximately 200 FamilyMart stores in Thailand were planned for conversion to the Tops Daily banner. The brand therefore functions as a broad Thai food-retail platform spanning large supermarkets, premium destinations, specialty stores, convenience outlets, and retail-linked shopping centers.
History
Tops originated in Thailand in 1996 through the formation of CRC Ahold Co., Ltd. The venture brought together Robinson Department Store and Central Group’s supermarket operations with Royal Ahold, a Netherlands-based supermarket company that held a 49 percent interest. The structure reflected Central’s effort to develop a modern supermarket business while drawing on Ahold’s international retail experience. The first store opened at Royal City Avenue. The new stores adopted the Tops name, which Ahold borrowed from its United States supermarket holding, Tops Markets. Despite the shared name, the Thai operation did not reuse Tops Markets’ red diamond logo, making the Thai chain a distinct local brand within the joint venture arrangement. Robinson reduced and ultimately exited its investment by selling shares to Ahold in transactions in December 1996 and 1998. Ahold later withdrew from the Asian market and sold its stake to Central in 2004. This change placed the Thai supermarket business under Central’s control and established the ownership structure that led to its operation by Central Food Retail, a Central Retail Corporation subsidiary. The 2004 expansion also included the conversion of 20 former Food Lion locations into Tops stores. The outlets became available after Delhaize Group closed its supermarket operation in Thailand, allowing Central to broaden Tops’ retail footprint without relying solely on new store construction. Over time, Tops diversified its store architecture. The conventional Tops supermarket remained the core format, while Tops Food Hall targeted premium grocery shopping and Tops Fine Food served higher-tier food retail. Tops Daily was developed as a compact convenience format, with stores generally ranging from 100 to 200 square meters. Tops Plaza locations added a shopping-center dimension and could include Tops retail, department-store activity, and cinemas; the first Tops Plaza branch was identified as being in Phichit and opened on 22 December 2017. Tops Food Hall has also been positioned as a destination for premium and international grocery shopping. The Canadian Grocer included it among 25 grocery stores around the world recommended for visitors, reflecting the format’s differentiation from ordinary supermarket retail. A major later portfolio change followed the end of Central’s FamilyMart franchise agreement in Thailand in 2023. Approximately 200 FamilyMart stores were intended to be converted to Tops Daily locations. This decision extended the Tops name into a larger convenience-store network and reinforced the brand’s role as Central Retail’s principal multi-format food-retail platform in Thailand. The referenced material describes Tops as the country’s largest supermarket chain, with 235 stores nationwide.
- 2023
FamilyMart stores planned for Tops Daily conversion
[1]After Central’s FamilyMart franchise agreement ended, approximately 200 Thai FamilyMart locations were planned for conversion to the Tops Daily format.
- 2017
First Tops Plaza opened
[1]The first Tops Plaza location opened in Phichit on 22 December 2017.
- 2004
Central acquired Ahold’s interest
[1]Ahold sold its stake to Central as part of its withdrawal from Asia.
- 2004
Former Food Lion stores converted to Tops
[1]Central converted 20 former Food Lion locations into Tops stores after Delhaize Group closed its supermarket operations in Thailand.
- 1998
Robinson completed its exit from the venture
[1]Robinson sold its remaining invested shares to Ahold, completing its withdrawal from the joint venture.
- 1996
CRC Ahold established
[1]Robinson Department Store and Central Group’s supermarket business were integrated into CRC Ahold Co., Ltd. through a joint venture with Royal Ahold, which held a 49 percent stake.
- 1996
First Tops supermarket opened
[1]The first Thai Tops store opened at Royal City Avenue.
Products and positioning
A nationwide Thai grocery retailer with a portfolio ranging from mainstream supermarkets and neighborhood convenience stores to premium food halls and specialty food outlets.
Supermarket · 1996
Tops Supermarket
The main full-size grocery format in the Tops network. Tops supermarkets provide general food and household shopping, including fresh food, packaged groceries, chilled and frozen products, beverages, and other daily necessities. The format forms the core of the brand’s nationwide retail presence.
Premium supermarket
Tops Food Hall
A premium grocery format designed as a more destination-oriented food-shopping environment. Tops Food Hall is associated with higher-end, international, and specialty grocery selections and has received recognition in international grocery-retail coverage.
High-tier supermarket
Tops Fine Food
A higher-tier Tops supermarket concept focused on fine and premium food retail. The format extends the brand beyond everyday grocery shopping and is intended for customers seeking more specialized or upscale food selections.
Convenience store
Tops Daily
A compact neighborhood convenience format generally occupying about 100 to 200 square meters. Tops Daily provides convenient access to food, beverages, and everyday necessities and was selected as the conversion format for a large number of former FamilyMart stores in Thailand.
Shopping center · 2017
Tops Plaza
A shopping-center format combining Tops grocery retail with other Central Group-style retail and entertainment components. The format can include a department store and cinemas alongside the supermarket, creating a broader shopping destination.
Brand decisions
2023
FamilyMart stores scheduled for Tops Daily conversionStrategyBackground
Central’s franchise agreement with FamilyMart in Thailand ended in 2023, affecting roughly 200 stores.
Action taken
The affected locations were planned for conversion to the Tops Daily convenience-store format.
Aftermath
The plan increased the potential scale of the Tops Daily network and consolidated Central’s Thai convenience presence under its own food-retail brand.
2004
Central took control of the Thai Tops businessM&ABackground
Royal Ahold was withdrawing from Asia and held an interest in the Thai supermarket joint venture.
Action taken
Ahold sold its stake to Central, ending the joint-venture ownership arrangement and placing the business under Central’s control.
Aftermath
Tops continued as a Central-operated Thai grocery brand and later became part of the Central Food Retail and Central Retail structure.
2004
Conversion of former Food Lion locationsStrategyBackground
Delhaize Group closed its Food Lion supermarket operations in Thailand, leaving 20 locations available for possible reuse.
Action taken
Central converted the 20 former Food Lion stores to the Tops banner.
Aftermath
The conversions expanded Tops’ physical presence in Thailand.
Recent events
- 2023
Central planned conversion of FamilyMart stores to Tops Daily[1]
M&A
Following the end of Central’s franchise agreement with FamilyMart in Thailand, approximately 200 stores were planned for conversion to the Tops Daily convenience format.
Sources3 sources
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