Big C vows to continue winning strategy after good 2012 results

Big C Supercenter says its impressive sales growth last year of 9.3 per cent to Bt112.1 billion reflects its successful business model, accelerated network expansion and fine-tuned marketing strategy.

The company's rental and service income also rose 13.5 per cent to Bt7.9 billion, driving net profit up 15.9 per cent.

Rumpa Kumhomreun, chief financial officer and vice president for accounting and finance, said yesterday that the company had completed 2012 with great results.

Strong retail sales resulted from a combination of vigorous same-store sales growth, store openings and effective marketing strategy, Rumpa said.

Last year saw the openings of a Big C Extra hypermarket, four Big C Supercenter hypermarkets, seven Big C markets, 76 Mini Big C outlets, including seven in Bangchak Petroleum filling stations, and 41 Pure drugstores.

This brought Big C's total to 348 stores - 113 hypermarkets, 18 Big C Markets, 126 Mini Big C outlets and 91 Pure stores.

The rise in rental and service income was attributed to additional lettable space at 10 shopping malls that started operating last year. Consequently, the company's net income attributable to the parents rose 15.9 per cent to Bt6.07 billion.

This year, Big C says it will continue to expand across all formats and focus on campaigns to draw customer traffic nationwide.