Central Food Retail in Bt340m drive

The company has got 3,000 business partners to take part in the campaign, called "SPOT Money Back".

Phattaraporn Phenpraphat, vice president for marketing and public relations, yesterday said Central Food Retail expected spending to rise by 8 to 10 per cent, or Bt800 million to Bt1 billion, as a result of the initiative.

Central Food Retail operates supermarket chains under the Central Food Hall, Tops Market, Tops Super and Tops Daily brands.

Under the campaign, consumers can accumulate points that can be exchanged for cash vouchers.

Phattaraporn said there would initially be 60 leading brands and 4,261 items from the 3,000 suppliers taking part in the campaign, which starts on October 1. She expects the number of products to rise to between 15,000 and 20,000 later.

"Following a survey, we found most consumers want to receive cash coupons that can be used for buying daily-use products in these difficult economic times," she said.

She added that the company expected customers who normally spend not more than Bt400 a time - and who represent about 30 to 35 per cent of Central Food Retail's sales - to spend more given the cash-coupon incentive.

She said the company also targeted increasing the number of SPOT Reward Card members from the current 3.8 million to 4 million by the end of the year.

Spending per bill currently averages Bt350-Bt400 at Tops Super, Bt500-Bt550 at Tops Market and Bt600 at Central Food Hall.