Tesco Lotus to expand community malls with a focus on Phuket

She said Tesco Lotus was develop¬ing its "community mall" concept, branded as @Oasis and @Park.

Earlier this year, Tesco Lotus opened its first @Oasis community mall on Samakkee Road in Nonthaburi province.

"We'll open our latest @Park com¬munity mall in the Chao Fa area of Phuket on August 22 and another one on September 10 at Rawai Beach. Both will have a 1,000square metre Talad Lotus supermarket as its key retail anchor," Veena said.

She said Tesco Lotus would also this year open other community malls in Bangkok, in Phetkasem Soi 81, the Town in Town area and Sukhumvit Soi 101/1.

"We're also looking at potential locations in some outlying areas of Bangkok, such as in Pathum Thani and on RangsitNakhon Nayok Road," Veena added.

She said Tesco Lotus regarded Phuket as having great potential for communitymall expansion.

"Phuket is a big island with a strong tourist trade and many highincome earners," Veena said. "Our Tesco Lotus hypermarket in Phuket was in the top five stores in terms of sales. Other big retailers have also opened stores in Phuket."

She said like in Bangkok, the com¬pany hoped the Phuket malls would become a meeting place for local com¬munities.

"We plan to upgrade our Talad Lotus in the Choeng Talay area of Phuket as a community mall in the near future," Veena said.

She said Tesco Lotus would open between five and 10 community malls next year.

"Expanding smaller community malls is easier and requires less invest¬ment than large malls," Veena said.

She said community malls would support the growing trend of people who did not want to travel far to shop, due to rising fuel prices.

"The biggest challenge facing oper¬ators of community malls is research¬ing and understanding the needs and requirements of consumers living in their catchment areas," Veena said.