Central Group
Encyclopedia
The Central Group of Companies (Thai
: เครือเซ็นทรัล) is a family-owned conglomerate holding company in Thailand
that is involved in retailing, real estate, hotel
s and restaurant
s. Among its subsidiaries is Central Pattana, which is the largest developer and operator of shopping centres in Thailand and the Central Retail Corporation, Thailand's biggest retail conglomerate. Its chief rival is The Mall Group
, which owns Siam Paragon
and The Emporium
and several suburban shopping centres.
district, Bangkok's Chinatown
. In 1957, Tiang's son, Samrit Chirathivat, opened the first Central Department Store in Wangburapha, Phra Nakhon
, Bangkok
. The company's property development arm, Central Pattana was founded in 1980, and opened its first shopping centre, Central Plaza Lat Phrao in Chatuchak
district, Bangkok
in 1982.
Central Pattana is the retail property development and management arm of the Central Group, Central Pattana was founded on June 17, 1980 with a registered capital of 300 million baht. The company became registered as a public limited company
in 1994 and was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand
in 1995.
CPN is currently managing 15 shopping centres, 6 office buildings, one hotel and two residential projects
International shopping center and multi experiential retail and leisure destination with over 200,000 sq/m of net leasable area. There is currently one branch of CentralWorld
.
The "real shopping experience" with a complete quality selection that enhances every lifestyle, fashion and entertainment. A typical mall of this size has around 100,000 sq/m of net leasable area. There are currently 13 malls of this concept with 4 more under construction and 4 more planned. The first mall of this concept opened in 1982 and is CentralPlaza Ladprao.
The "shopping and entertainment experience" with holiday spirit and local novelty, it's designed to cater more international visitors. Approximately 50,000 sg/m net leasable area. Only 1 branch has recently opened called CentralFestival Pattaya Beach
a second branch is under construction in Chiang Mai
and will open in early 2013.
, ZEN
and Robinson
) in Thailand and it recently bought La Rinascente
a department store in Italy. It also operates 2 Supermarkets (Tops and Central Food Hall) and 5 Specialty Retail Stores (Power Buy - Electronics Store, Super Sport - Sports Store, B2S - Books Entertainment and Stationary, homeWorks - Home Improvement Center and Office Depot - Office Product Stores)
a second store is under construction in Suphanburi
.
Central stores are positioned as an upper-market chain. It has 12 stores in Bangkok
and branches in Pak Kret/Nonthaburi, Chiang Mai
, Hat Yai
, Pattaya
and Phuket
.
, Nonthaburi, Chiang Mai
, Hat Yai
, Phuket
, Patong Beach
, Nakhon Si Thammarat
, Ayutthaya
, Ratchaburi
, Sri Racha, Chanthaburi
, Udonthani, Ubon Ratchathani
, Chonburi
, Khon Kaen
. Also there is an expansion plan in 2011-2012 such as Trang
, Chiang Rai
, Phitsanulok
, Rama IX in Bangkok and Surat Thani
.
district, Bangkok. Now named CentralWorld
, the shopping center underwent a major renovation in 2006, although it was destroyed in a fire lit by the Red Shirt movement on May 19, 2010 as a reaction to the surrender of their protest leaders. The CentralWorld branch is due to reopen in August 2011.
A second branch is currently under construction in Shenyang
, China
and will open in the third quarter this year with more stores to come.
"Our ultimate goal is to take it global and to be recognised all across Asia, be it in Thailand
, China
, Japan
or Hong Kong
," Chief Executive Officer Tos Chirathivat told reporters.
Central Retail also planned new Rinascente stores in Italy and expected the takeover to break even within eight years. Tos said there would be no change of management team at Rinascente, which is led by Chief Executive Vittorio Radice. Rinascente posted sales of 350 million euros in 2010. Central Retail was still looking for more foreign assets after the acquisition, which is expected to add 15 percent to its sales starting next month, Tos said, adding the Thai company expected sales of 100 billion baht ($3.3 billion) in 2011 and 230 billion baht in 2012.
Central Hotels and Resorts, renamed Centara Hotels and Resorts in 2007, owns 11 resort hotels in Thailand, including the Sofitel
Centara Grand at Central Plaza Lat Phrao in Chatuchak
district and the Sofitel Centara Grand Hua Hin
Resort, which was Thailand's first resort-style hotel, built in 1923 by the State Railway of Thailand
. Other hotels are located in Krabi
, Ko Samui
, Phuket
, Hat Yai
, Chiang Mai
and Mae Sot
. The company plans to open two more hotels, Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre
at CentralWorld
in Bangkok, and the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort in Pattaya
in 2008. The two hotels are now fully operational and their grand openings were held in 2008 (Bangkok) and 2009 (Pattaya).
Thai language
Thai , also known as Central Thai and Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the native language of the Thai people, Thailand's dominant ethnic group. Thai is a member of the Tai group of the Tai–Kadai language family. Historical linguists have been unable to definitively...
: เครือเซ็นทรัล) is a family-owned conglomerate holding company in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
that is involved in retailing, real estate, hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s and restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s. Among its subsidiaries is Central Pattana, which is the largest developer and operator of shopping centres in Thailand and the Central Retail Corporation, Thailand's biggest retail conglomerate. Its chief rival is The Mall Group
The Mall Group
The Mall Group is one of Thailand's largest mall operators. Its main rival is the Central Group. The Mall's brands include "The Mall", The Emporium and Siam Paragon...
, which owns Siam Paragon
Siam Paragon
Siam Paragon is a shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand. It is one of the biggest shopping centers in Asia. Opened on December 9, 2005, it includes a wide range of specialty stores and restaurants as well as a multiplex movie theater and the Siam Ocean World...
and The Emporium
The Emporium (Bangkok)
The Emporium is a luxury shopping mall in Khlong Toei district, Bangkok , Thailand, which opened in 1997. It is owned and operated by The Mall Group and another huge mall, Siam Paragon....
and several suburban shopping centres.
History
Tiang Chirathivat started a general merchandise store in 1947 in SamphanthawongSamphanthawong
Samphanthawong is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. Regarded as Bangkok's Chinatown, it is the smallest district in area but has the highest population density of Bangkok's districts...
district, Bangkok's Chinatown
Yaowarat Road
Bangkok's Chinatown is centered on Yaowarat Road in Samphanthawong district.The Chinatown is an old business center covering a large area around Yaowarat and Charoen Krung Road. There are many small streets and alleys full of shops and vendors selling all types of goods...
. In 1957, Tiang's son, Samrit Chirathivat, opened the first Central Department Store in Wangburapha, Phra Nakhon
Phra Nakhon
Phra Nakhon is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. It is the central district of Bangkok, including the Rattanakosin Island...
, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. The company's property development arm, Central Pattana was founded in 1980, and opened its first shopping centre, Central Plaza Lat Phrao in Chatuchak
Chatuchak (district)
Chatuchak is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by seven other districts : Lak Si, Bang Khen, Lat Phrao, Huai Khwang, Din Daeng, Phaya Thai and Bang Sue.-History:...
district, Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
in 1982.
Central Pattana (CPN)
Public limited company
A public limited company is a limited liability company that sells shares to the public in United Kingdom company law, in the Republic of Ireland and Commonwealth jurisdictions....
in 1994 and was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand
Stock Exchange of Thailand
The Stock Exchange of Thailand is the national stock exchange of Thailand. It is located in Bangkok. As of 31 December 2007, the Stock Exchange of Thailand had 541 listed companies with a combined market capitalization of $280 billion. The indices of the stock exchange are SET Index, SET50 Index...
in 1995.
CPN is currently managing 15 shopping centres, 6 office buildings, one hotel and two residential projects
Central Pattana mall concepts
CPN operates 3 kind of shopping mall concepts:International shopping center and multi experiential retail and leisure destination with over 200,000 sq/m of net leasable area. There is currently one branch of CentralWorld
CentralWorld
CentralWorld is a shopping plaza and complex in Bangkok, Thailand. It is the third largest shopping complex in the world. The complex, which includes a hotel and office tower, is owned by Central Pattana...
.
The "real shopping experience" with a complete quality selection that enhances every lifestyle, fashion and entertainment. A typical mall of this size has around 100,000 sq/m of net leasable area. There are currently 13 malls of this concept with 4 more under construction and 4 more planned. The first mall of this concept opened in 1982 and is CentralPlaza Ladprao.
The "shopping and entertainment experience" with holiday spirit and local novelty, it's designed to cater more international visitors. Approximately 50,000 sg/m net leasable area. Only 1 branch has recently opened called CentralFestival Pattaya Beach
CentralFestival Pattaya Beach
CentralFestival Pattaya Beach is a shopping mall in Pattaya, Thailand. The mall opened in 2009 and was the first shopping mall of Central Group, Thailand's largest retail corporation under the "CentralFestival" brand.-Overview:...
a second branch is under construction in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
and will open in early 2013.
Central Retail Corporation (CRC)
Central Retail Corporation is the largest retailer in Thailand, it operates 3 department store chains (Central Department StoreCentral Department Store
Central Department Store is a Thai department store chain, owned by Central Group.- History :Started in 1927, 22-year old Nitiang or Tiang Chirathivat, an immigrant from mainland China, travels the sea and settles down in then Siam and started a store in Bangkok named "Keng Seng Lee" or , which...
, ZEN
ZEN Department Store
ZEN Department Store is an upmarket Thai department store chain, owned by Central Group.-Overview:The upmarket ZEN department store chain was established in 1990 with its first branch as one of the anchors of the World Trade Center in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok...
and Robinson
Robinson Department Store
Robinson Department Store is a Thai department store chain. It was established in 1979 and was merged with Central Group in 1995...
) in Thailand and it recently bought La Rinascente
La Rinascente
La Rinascente is a Thai owned Italian retailer operating upscale department stores in the area of clothing, household and beauty products, founded in Milan in 1865 by Luigi and Ferdinando Bocconi....
a department store in Italy. It also operates 2 Supermarkets (Tops and Central Food Hall) and 5 Specialty Retail Stores (Power Buy - Electronics Store, Super Sport - Sports Store, B2S - Books Entertainment and Stationary, homeWorks - Home Improvement Center and Office Depot - Office Product Stores)
Robinson Lifestyle Center
Robinson Lifestyle Center is a new medium size mall concept of Central Retail Corporation. The role of the new lifestyle center concept is to penetrate secondary provinces where big shopping malls are not present. A typical size of the new concept will have a retail space of around 30,000 square metres, with 20,000 net leasable area. First mall opened in November 2011, in TrangTrang
Trang is the capital of Trang Province, Thailand. The city has a population of 59,637 and covers the whole tambon Thap Thiang of Mueang Trang district....
a second store is under construction in Suphanburi
Suphanburi
Suphan Buri is a town in central Thailand, capital of the Suphan Buri Province. It covers the whole tambon Tha Philiang and parts of the tambon Rua Yai and Tha Rahat, all within the Mueang Suphan Buri district...
.
Central Department Store
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
and branches in Pak Kret/Nonthaburi, Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
, Hat Yai
Hat Yai
Hat Yai is a city in southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. Located at , it has a population of 157,359 in the city itself and about 800,000 in the greater Hat Yai area. Hat Yai is the largest city of Songkhla Province, the largest metropolitan area in Southern, and third largest...
, Pattaya
Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....
and Phuket
Phuket Province
Phuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand...
.
Robinson Department Store
The Robinson department store chain was established in 1979 and was merged with Central in 1995. The company has branches in BangkokBangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
, Nonthaburi, Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
, Hat Yai
Hat Yai
Hat Yai is a city in southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. Located at , it has a population of 157,359 in the city itself and about 800,000 in the greater Hat Yai area. Hat Yai is the largest city of Songkhla Province, the largest metropolitan area in Southern, and third largest...
, Phuket
Phuket Province
Phuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand...
, Patong Beach
Patong Beach
Patong Beach refers to a beach on Phuket's west coast, and to the town adjoining it. It is the main tourist resort in Phuket. It also contains an important center of Phuket's nightlife and is the center of inexpensive shopping on the island. The beach became popular with Western tourists,...
, Nakhon Si Thammarat
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Nakhon Si Thammarat is a town in southern Thailand, capital of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Province and the Nakhon Si Thammarat district. It is about south of Bangkok, on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula. The city was the administrative center of southern Thailand during most of its history. ...
, Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya (city)
Ayutthaya city is the capital of Ayutthaya province in Thailand. Located in the valley of the Chao Phraya River. The city was founded in 1350 by King U Thong, who went there to escape a smallpox outbreak in Lop Buri and proclaimed it the capital of his kingdom, often referred to as the Ayutthaya...
, Ratchaburi
Ratchaburi
Ratchaburi ) is a town in western Thailand, capital of the Ratchaburi Province. It covers the whole tambon Nai Mueang of Mueang Ratchaburi district. As of 2006 it has a population of 38,208.-External links:*...
, Sri Racha, Chanthaburi
Chanthaburi
Chanthaburi ) is a town in the east of Thailand, at the banks of the Chanthaburi River. It is the capital of the Chanthaburi Province and the Mueang Chanthaburi district....
, Udonthani, Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani
Ubon Ratchathani is a city on the Mun River in the south-east of the Isan region of Thailand. It is known as Ubon for short. The name means "Royal Lotus City." The provincial seal features a pond with a lotus flower and leaves in a circular frame. Ubon is the administrative centre of Ubon...
, Chonburi
Chonburi (city)
Chonburi is the capital of Chonburi Province in Thailand. It is located about 100km east of Bangkok, on the coast to the Gulf of Thailand. The name means city of water.Chonburi has had town status since 1935.-External links:...
, Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen
Khon Kaen is a city in Isan, Thailand. It is also the capital of Khon Kaen province and the Khon Kaen district.-Geography and demography:Khon Kaen is located in the Khorat Plateau, in the central-northwestern area of Isaan...
. Also there is an expansion plan in 2011-2012 such as Trang
Trang
Trang is the capital of Trang Province, Thailand. The city has a population of 59,637 and covers the whole tambon Thap Thiang of Mueang Trang district....
, Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai
-Demographics:Official Population count: According to the Thailand National Statistical Office, as of September 2010, Chiang Rai municipal district has a population of 199,699...
, Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok is an important and historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago...
, Rama IX in Bangkok and Surat Thani
Surat Thani
Surat Thani is a city in Amphoe Mueang Surat Thani, Surat Thani Province, southern Thailand. It is the capital of the province Surat Thani. The city has a population of 128,179 , and an area of 68.97 square kilometers. The city's population density is 1,858.47 inhabitants per km².Suran Thani is...
.
Zen Department Store
The upmarket Zen department store chain was established in 1990 with its first branch as one of the anchors of the World Trade Center in Pathum WanPathum Wan
Pathum Wan or Pathumwan is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by six other districts : Ratchathewi , Watthana, Khlong Toei, Sathon, Bang Rak, Pom Prap Sattru Phai , and Dusit.-History:The district was established in 1914...
district, Bangkok. Now named CentralWorld
CentralWorld
CentralWorld is a shopping plaza and complex in Bangkok, Thailand. It is the third largest shopping complex in the world. The complex, which includes a hotel and office tower, is owned by Central Pattana...
, the shopping center underwent a major renovation in 2006, although it was destroyed in a fire lit by the Red Shirt movement on May 19, 2010 as a reaction to the surrender of their protest leaders. The CentralWorld branch is due to reopen in August 2011.
A second branch is currently under construction in Shenyang
Shenyang
Shenyang , or Mukden , is the capital and largest city of Liaoning Province in Northeast China. Currently holding sub-provincial administrative status, the city was once known as Shengjing or Fengtianfu...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and will open in the third quarter this year with more stores to come.
La Rinascente
On May 27, 2011 Central Retail bought a 100% stake of the 150-year-old store firm for 260 million euros."Our ultimate goal is to take it global and to be recognised all across Asia, be it in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
or Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
," Chief Executive Officer Tos Chirathivat told reporters.
Central Retail also planned new Rinascente stores in Italy and expected the takeover to break even within eight years. Tos said there would be no change of management team at Rinascente, which is led by Chief Executive Vittorio Radice. Rinascente posted sales of 350 million euros in 2010. Central Retail was still looking for more foreign assets after the acquisition, which is expected to add 15 percent to its sales starting next month, Tos said, adding the Thai company expected sales of 100 billion baht ($3.3 billion) in 2011 and 230 billion baht in 2012.
Other Central Retail companies
- PowerBuy – An electronics retailer with more than 70 stores.
- Office DepotOffice DepotOffice Depot is a supplier of office products and provides many services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping,...
– The office-supply giant's stores in Thailand have been operated by Central since 1996. - B2S – A chain that sells stationeryStationeryStationery has historically meant a wide gamut of materials: paper and office supplies, writing implements, greeting cards, glue, pencil case etc.-History of stationery:...
, bookBookA book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s, magazineMagazineMagazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
s, school and office supplies, musicMusicMusic is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
CDsCompact DiscThe Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
and movie DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
s. - SupersportsSupersportsSupersports is an Australian motor racing class designed as a relatively cheap class of sports racing car. While looking like international sports cars the vehicles themselves are smaller and lighter. Engines are liquid-cooled, four stroke, naturally aspirated engines...
– A sporting-goods store. - Homeworks – A building supplies and home-improvement retailer.
- Tops SupermarketTops Supermarkets (Thailand)Tops is a grocery chain in Thailand. Formerly part of the US-based Tops Markets LLC, the chain is operated under the name Tops Supermarket in Thailand by the Central Food Retail , a subsidiary of Central Retail Corporation. In addition to Tops Supermarket, some branches of the Tops brand go by the...
– US-based TopsTops Markets LLCTops Friendly Markets is an American supermarket chain based in Williamsville, New York, with stores in the western and central regions of that state and in northern Pennsylvania-Early years:...
grocery chain was operated in Thailand by Central, now named Tops Super, Tops Market, Tops Daily and Central Food Hall. It has nearly 120 stores nationwide. - BigCBigCBig C, or Big C Supercenter , is a grocery and general merchandising retailer headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand. It is the leading hypermarket chain in Thailand, managed under the umbrella of Groupe Casino...
– A chain of hypermarkets, majority owned by the Casino Group of France. - Watson'sWatson'sWatson's or Watson's is part of the Health and Beauty retail and consumer division of the Hong Kong-based A.S. Watson Group, which in turn is part of the world wide conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Ltd...
– The Thailand outlets of the Hong KongHong KongHong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
-based Hutchison WhampoaHutchison WhampoaHutchison Whampoa Limited or HWL of Hong Kong is a Fortune 500 company and one of the largest companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. HWL is an international corporation with a diverse array of holdings which includes the world's biggest port and telecommunication operations in 14...
drugstore chain are run by Central. - Marks & SpencerMarks & SpencerMarks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
– Central is a franchisee of the British retail chain, with M&S located within Central Department Stores and two freestanding stores in Thailand.
Centara Hotels and Resorts
Sofitel
Sofitel is a luxury hotel chain managed by Accor, which opened its first property in Strasbourg in 1964. Its first overseas opening in Minneapolis, USA was in 1974. In 1995 Sofitel had 100 hotels in 40 countries and employed 12500 people....
Centara Grand at Central Plaza Lat Phrao in Chatuchak
Chatuchak (district)
Chatuchak is one of the 50 districts of Bangkok, Thailand. The district is bounded by seven other districts : Lak Si, Bang Khen, Lat Phrao, Huai Khwang, Din Daeng, Phaya Thai and Bang Sue.-History:...
district and the Sofitel Centara Grand Hua Hin
Hua Hin
Hua Hin is a famous beach resort town in Thailand, in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some 200 km south of Bangkok. It has a population of 84,883 in an area of 911 km², and is one of eight districts of the Prachuap Khiri Khan province.Hua Hin is closely associated with the...
Resort, which was Thailand's first resort-style hotel, built in 1923 by the State Railway of Thailand
State Railway of Thailand
The State Railway of Thailand is the state-owned rail operator in Thailand. The network sees around 50 million passengers per annum.-History:SRT was founded as the Royal State Railways of Siam in 1890...
. Other hotels are located in Krabi
Krabi
Krabi is a town on the west coast of southern Thailand at the mouth of the Krabi River where it empties in Phangnga Bay. As of 2005 the town has a population of 24,986. The town is the capital of Krabi Province and Krabi district...
, Ko Samui
Ko Samui
Ko Samui island of Surat Thani Province , or often, simply Samui as it is referred to by locals, is an island off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus in Thailand, close to the mainland Surat Thani town. It is Thailand's second largest island, with an area of 228.7 km2 and a population of over...
, Phuket
Phuket Province
Phuket , formerly known as Thalang and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon , is one of the southern provinces of Thailand...
, Hat Yai
Hat Yai
Hat Yai is a city in southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. Located at , it has a population of 157,359 in the city itself and about 800,000 in the greater Hat Yai area. Hat Yai is the largest city of Songkhla Province, the largest metropolitan area in Southern, and third largest...
, Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
and Mae Sot
Mae Sot
- External links :* * : an audio documentary.* *...
. The company plans to open two more hotels, Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre
Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre
Centara Grand Hotel is a skyscraper located in Pathum Wan district, Bangkok, Thailand. The building houses a hotel that is part of the Central Group's Centara Hotels and Resorts.-Structure:...
at CentralWorld
CentralWorld
CentralWorld is a shopping plaza and complex in Bangkok, Thailand. It is the third largest shopping complex in the world. The complex, which includes a hotel and office tower, is owned by Central Pattana...
in Bangkok, and the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort in Pattaya
Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....
in 2008. The two hotels are now fully operational and their grand openings were held in 2008 (Bangkok) and 2009 (Pattaya).
External links
- Main corporate website
- Central Pattana
- http://www.centralretail.com-The parent company of Central's retail business
- Central Online - Main portal for company's retail brands
- Centara Hotels & Resorts
- Central Marketing Group
- Central Pattana