Big C Supercenter Plc will double its investment this year to 8 billion baht to open more than 200 new stores in all formats and develop two distribution centres to reduce risks from flooding.
Mini Big C stores at Bangchak petrol stations will come in two sizes.
About 5 billion baht will be used to open six hypermarkets, 13 Big C Markets, 150 Mini Big Cs and 50 Pure drug stores.
Another 3 billion baht will be used to build two distribution centres in northern and eastern Bangkok, bringing the number of centres to six by next April.
The number of all stores under Big C will reach 565 this year _ 119 hypermarkets, 31 Big C Markets, 275 Mini Big Cs and 140 Pure drug stores.
"We saw huge potential in developing convenience stores in the country, so we'll double our expansion of Mini Big Cs this year, opening another 150 on top of last year's 75," said Praphan Eamrungroj, the executive vice-president for properties.
Yesterday, Big C entered an exclusive agreement with state majority-owned Bangchak Petroleum Plc to open Mini Big C outlets at 500 Bangchak petrol stations nationwide.
Bangchak president Vichien Usanachote said the opening of 10 Mini Big C outlets at Bangchak stations as a test run last year received a very positive response from customers.
It will open 50-70 new Mini Big C stores this year.
Stores at petrol stations will come in two sizes _ a larger supermarket of 200 square metres, where the location has a strong residential population nearby; and a smaller store of 150 sq m for highway locations.
The larger stores will stock 4,800 items, with more fresh foods than the smaller stores with 3,800 items.
Both formats will stock a broad range of food and non-food groceries and other daily needs such as bakery and dairy products.
Mini Big C franchises will be offered for the first time to station operators.
Bangchak also plans to expand its Inthanin coffee shops and Green Wash Green Serve car care services at more Mini Big Cs.
Mr Praphan said Big C keeps expanding its convenience store business to serve changes in lifestyles, shifting its shopping destinations from traditional to modern trade outlets.
"We're very positive about the government's investment of 2 trillion baht in infrastructure. With more roads to be developed in many provinces, this will create more opportunities to develop new stores," he said.
Big C provides six retail formats in 55 provinces. With the launch of the Asean Economic Community in 2016, the company is preparing to benefit from more purchasing power among Asean tourists.
It plans to renovate and extend retail space at its stores located in border provinces such as Mukdahan, Loei, Udon Thani and Sa Kaeo.
Sales of Big C Supercenter totalled 112 billion baht last year and are expected to grow by 9-10% this year.
Shares of BigC closed yesterday on the SET at 216 baht, down one baht, in trade worth 31.5 million baht.