Makro marks 32 years alongside Thai SMEs through thick and thin and into the new normal
Siam Makro Public Company Limited has confirmed its commitment on the occasion of celebrating its 32nd anniversary to battling Covid-19 and granting continuous support to SMEs and local farmers. The company vows to overcome all crises alongside business partners, offering strategic marketing activities beneficial to business development for SMEs while operating as distribution channels for local agricultural businesses and implementing effective preventive measures in all channels.
“In 2021, Siam Makro has reached its 32nd milestone of business establishment in Thailand amid the great difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic,” Mr. Ricardo Boarotto, Chief Executive Officer – Makro Thailand Business Unit, Siam Makro Public Company Limited stated. “The crisis has deeply impacted business operations and lifestyles of our customers as well as business partners, including SMEs, small retailers, food outlets, farmers, and suppliers. Makro, therefore stands by its commitment to provide assistance and moral support for all related sectors. We are doing this by launching activities focused on helping small business operators overcome the crisis and continue to grow sustainably in the new normal conditions. Moreover, we are committed to offering high quality products at wholesale prices to help reduce the cost of living for the public and encourage everyone to move forward.”
In recent years, Makro has launched diverse programs and initiatives to support customers and communities, including:
- Makro contribution to field hospitals and communities impacted by Covid-19: Consumer products, medical treatment products and devices have been distributed to over 250 hospitals and communities across the country.
- Makro-Shohuay Partnership Program: This initiative, known as “Makro Retailer Alliance or Makro-Mit-Thae-Shohuay” program, has been conducted for 14 consecutive years, assisting the development of over 70,000 small retailers.
In 2021, Smart Shohuay model was debuted under the concept of developing shohuay shops as “community kitchens and true partners to the community”, providing business guidelines for small retailers to survive under these critical circumstances, supported by modern technologies and tips for business expansion as well as providing additional services to attract more customers.
- Makro-Agro Business Partnership Program: Makro offers distribution channels and continuous market development support to local farmers. In 2021, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Makro has assisted small agricultural businesses encountering production oversupply issues by targeting 20% increases in purchases over the previous year, equivalent to 204,000 tons.
- Free Space for small restaurants impacted by Covid-19: Makro has allocated space at no charge for small business operators to sell ready-to-eat boxed meals and provide food delivery services in front of Makro’s 83 branches. This initiative has assisted over 1,300 small food outlets. Food delivery and restaurant management advice is also provided by Makro HoReCa Academy (MHA) to help foster incomes amid the crisis.
- Intensive Covid-19 Preventive Measures at all branches: Makro is certified with ‘THAI STOP COVID Plus’ launched by the Department of Health of the Ministry of Public Health. Additional measures in compliance with government policy are introduced continuously.
- Green Organization Campaign: Makro announced its commitment to becoming a green organization with a policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enabling the organization to achieve carbon balance by 2030.
In reaching for this goal, projects include solar roof installations and stopping selling single-use foam containers at all branches across Thailand within 2021.
An “Upcycling Plastic Waste for Purposes” project also introduced calls for awareness from staff and customers to collect plastic bottles waste for upcycling processes, including transforming waste into staff uniforms and PPE suits.
“In upholding business ethics, Makro believes that focusing on making profits cannot be its sole mission. We must respond to the social crisis by lending a hand so stakeholders in all sectors can survive and prosper together. Throughout 32 years, we have worked alongside small retailers, including shohuay, food outlets, business partners, SMEs, and farmers. Meanwhile, to move the organization forward alongside society and the world at large, we nurture awareness of social development issues and solutions among our over 20,000 staff.”
