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Protesters Take to Streets Over Tesco
By Chutima Sidasathian Thursday, August 16, 2012
PHUKET: About 500 people marched through Phuket City today in protest at plans to build a large new Tesco Lotus supermarket not far from old Phuket Town.
A public hearing due to be held today at the Katina Hotel in Phuket City was cancelled.
Marchers had planned to head for the hotel but on learning of the cancellation opted instead to walk around Phuket City before heading for Phuket Provincial Hall.
The well-organised marchers call themselves a ''network of Phuket residents and people anti-Tesco Lotus in Phuket Town.''
The group fears a large branded store in the area would mean the loss of income for fresh market sellers and small retailers in Old Phuket Town.
Tesco is believed to have bought a large parcel of land in Bangkok Road, next to the Vachira Phuket Hospital Clinic, in Phuket City's Poonpol district.
Details of the new Tesco complex have yet to be revealed but its two existing large supermarkets and several medium-sized outlets include a core supermarket and a range of other retail stores.
Traditional mom 'n' pop shops that once operated all over Phuket are steadily disappearing as brand supermarkets and franchised convenience stores compete for customers on Phuket.
Tesco-Lotus opened the first supermarket in Phuket City in October, 1999. Any supermarket with parking space in central Phuket City would be likely to attract a following.
A Tesco manager contacted by Phuketwan today was not prepared to comment.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
Progress you can't stop it even on fantasy island.In the old days 20+ years back when we were practically held to ransom by these phuket town shop owners with their take it or leave it attitude and pricing, well mom 'n' pop those days are long gone. This new Tesco can only spell good times ahead for that area giving the poor Thai people a chance to get some quality low price foods and goods in one location with the bonus of creating several jobs for the locals can't be bad.
Posted by
Scunner
on
August 16, 2012 18:08
The reason why Tesco and other chains including Supercheap are expanding is because they have customers for them, else it would not make sense. The rest of the world has been through, are going through or will go through the same development.
Posted by
Bjarne
on
August 16, 2012 18:10
I love the name of the protest group - I think something less of a mouthful may be easier....
Posted by
Catchy
on
August 16, 2012 19:26
Good luck to them for trying, the big chains don't give a hoot about anything bar profit. Woolworths, the Tesco equivalent in Aus, screws the farmers and all suppliers, they don't care who they put out of business. I support the Mum and Pop shops and people who work hard.
Posted by
coxo
on
August 16, 2012 19:33
Editor Comment:
I thought there was a duopoly in Australian retailing, coxo, with Coles right up there alongside Woolworths. You seem to be suggesting only one retail brand does the wrong thing. Are you being unfair?
Hope it is a better quality Tesco than the poor excuse for a store on Viset Road.
Posted by
Bruno
on
August 16, 2012 20:00
Off course Coles are on par with Woolworths, do they work in the national interest? Or profit only? The article is about small business being wiped out by foreign multi national companys, you either agree with them or dont, I personally support the small business.
Posted by
coxo
on
August 16, 2012 20:05
Editor Comment:
Thanks for letting us know, coxo. Hate to have you accused of bias in favor of one big store brand. I guess you never shop at supermarkets, then.
I much prefer Tesco and BigC to many small shops with questionable hygiene levels and even one very large local chain where rodents, birds and a large variety of insects can be seen among fresh food laid out in open containers, even during shopping hours.
Never seen a rat hop along in a Tesco but sure seen many at this chains' main outlet.
Seems that the local health inspectors just ignore that particular chain. I wonder why.
It's neither super nor that cheap either.
Posted by
Andrew
on
August 16, 2012 20:36
Want to support the small Mom n Pop stores, but as mentioned, they have been charging extortionate (maybe an exaggeration) prices to foreigners for as long as I've been here. No stock, high prices, rip off techniques, tiny fridges, stock they do have is almost out of date, oh and complete dismissal of our presence in the shop ! (Some shops - one nr. Nai harn comes to mind). And then we have masssive commercial giants that have ruined local businesses in most European & US towns with v. little benefit for the communities ... Execpt the prices ! And money talks ...
Posted by
James
on
August 16, 2012 20:53
Your obviously bored tonight Ed. Doe's big business effect small business? Being that you are involved in small business with this little publication I thought you may have supported small business. Tesco has a huge impact right through Thailand's rural area's, not just the big centre's, they have small supermarkets in the smallest villages now, yes Ed its good for me to buy certain products however is it good for the locals and the community as business shuts down?
Posted by
coxo
on
August 16, 2012 21:28
Editor Comment:
I haven't expressed an opinion and don't intend to. You still haven't answered the question.
Does anyone know if the story is true about where Tesco wants to start his shop.
It seems that 30 years ago around 25 girls who were chained burned there in a brothel.
since that time it was doomed by all Thais.
Posted by
steve
on
August 16, 2012 22:43
This might impact on the Russian tourist trade if they cannot buy their cheap beer at the nearest mom 'n' pop shops. How very sad!
Posted by
Logic
on
August 17, 2012 00:29
Welcome to the wonderful world of Tesco. Their initial big stores are very seductive, offering a large range of goods at cheaper than "mom and pop" local stores. Then having established what in UK they call Tesco Extra they start to buy up local properties, pubs that have gone out of business, churches that have closed, anything that they can buy at knock down prices and open up Tesco Express. Local stores with initially great cheaper prices. Then when all the local "mom and pop" businesses have been driven out of business, guess what? The prices rise, speciality stores and items have disappeared. Tesco has the monopoly. These local protesters have obviously seen the shape of things to come but no-one is bothered about the future, just the now and if you can get cheaper prices now who cares about the future? Who cares about the impact on local communities? Tesco doesn't! It is making its profits now!
BTW Where do we do our main shop in the UK? Tesco! Either Tesco Extra for our big shop or Tesco Express for our local shop because our Mom & Pops lost the fight. Others didn't though!!! Good luck to these protesters.
Posted by
Alan
on
August 17, 2012 03:32
You didn't read my comment Ed, I said 'its good for me to buy certain products', that answers your question very clearly. I think you should buy a dog Ed, when you want to take your pettiness out on comments that you disagree with you could just kick your dog instead. By the way is your name Rupert... Mr big business supporter.
Posted by
coxo
on
August 17, 2012 06:44
Someone please tell tesco to sell the land in the city and buy some in chalong and build a very big store here. Currently the southern Tesco runs out of so many things daily it is better to go to a 7/11 if they have the same item. The mom and pop part is just plain wrong there are hundreds of mom and pop stores added to phuket each year not less because no one planned for the large population currently on this island.
Posted by
mike
on
August 17, 2012 11:41
@ Andrew
And if these Chain would have bought the plot of land, in town, there would be a lot less protest, too!
Posted by
???
on
August 17, 2012 16:01
The local retailers would do better to fight back against Tesco by improving the quality of the food and ranges on offer, opening at hours that suited their customers (not just themselves), cleaning and tidying up their shops etc.
This, of course, won't happen.
Posted by
Barry
on
August 21, 2012 11:54
I know of a medium size Tesco in a town about 50km west of Chiang Mai. It happily co-exists with the two markets, 4 7/11s and other mom and pop stores and has been a benefit to the local hill tribe communities as it cut down on the extortionate rates middlemen were charging people for staple goods. In point of interest ALL the small shops that were around before Tescos opened are still in operation 5 years later.The middlemen are the ones who lose out when the chains come in and they have been behind a lot of 'protests' up north. Tescos frequently have to put some goods on ration when specials are on offer as the local people are able to take advantage of cheaper goods never available in the past due to greed.
Posted by
Mister Ree
on
August 21, 2012 12:36
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Progress you can't stop it even on fantasy island.In the old days 20+ years back when we were practically held to ransom by these phuket town shop owners with their take it or leave it attitude and pricing, well mom 'n' pop those days are long gone. This new Tesco can only spell good times ahead for that area giving the poor Thai people a chance to get some quality low price foods and goods in one location with the bonus of creating several jobs for the locals can't be bad.
Posted by Scunner on August 16, 2012 18:08