The anniversary campaign will give away 14 luxury homes as well as offering discounts. The "customer loyalty" campaign runs from now until mid-July.

The company is opening "men's zones" at its premises and expanding information-technology product lines it said would "create a new image for the modern hypermarket".

Big C expected sales to grow between 15 per cent and 20 per cent by the end of the year, Jariya said.

Its full-year net profit last year was reported at Bt2.12 billion on total sales of Bt65.7 billion.

Machine tools show in Hanoi

Hanoi will host an international machine tools and metalworking technology show between October 11 and October 13.

Thailand Reed Tradex deputy chairman Chainarong Limpkittisin said the Metalex Vietnam 2007-Hanoi Edition featured state-of-the-art technologies that would satisfy Vietnamese requirements.

On show will be tools and machining centres, sheet metalworking and welding technology, factory automation, mould and dye, tools and tooling, and control measurement instruments, Viet Nam News reported.

Chainarong said Vietnam was not only culturally rich and unique but presented many business opportunities.

Vietnam was one of the fastest-growing markets in 2006 and is becoming a magnet for foreign investors. Manufacturing industries - particularly in the automotive, electronics and shipbuilding sectors - have high demand for modern, competitive technologies.

For manufacturers and exporters of new technologies, Hanoi shows a great deal of promise. The city aims to be fully industrialised by 2015, he said.

With six industrial zones and 18 industrial clusters, state-run factories - especially auto-parts - are keen to invest in newly developed machinery and technologies, he added.