Tops is a grocery chain in Thailand. Co-founded by the then-parent of U.S.-based

Tops Markets LLC Tops Friendly Markets is an American supermarket chain based in Amherst, New York, that operates stores in Upstate New York, Vermont, and Northern Pennsylvania. The chain operates full-scale supermarkets. Tops is a subsidiary of Northeast Groc ...

, the chain is operated under the name Tops Supermarket in Thailand by Central Food Retail, a subsidiary of

Central Retail Corporation Central Group consists of a variety of diverse investments in various corporations in Thailand and abroad, including investments in retail, property development, brand management, hospitality, and food and beverage sectors, and in digital lifes ...

. In addition to Tops Supermarket, some branches are called Tops Superstore, Tops Market, Tops Market Food & Wine, Tops Daily and

Central Food Hall Central Group consists of a variety of diverse investments in various corporations in Thailand and abroad, including investments in retail, property development, brand management, hospitality, and food and beverage sectors, and in digital lifes ...

. It is the largest supermarket chain in Thailand and operates 120 stores nationwide.

History

The company was established as CRC Ahold Co., Ltd. in 1996 by integration of

Robinson Department Store Robinson Department Store is a Thai owned department store. It was established in 1979 and was merged with Central Group in 1995. It is positioned as a mid-market retailer. The company, Robinson Public Company Limited, was registered in the s ...

and Central Group supermarket business and formed a joint venture with Royal Ahold Co., Ltd., a Netherlands-based supermarket operator, owning a 49 percent stake. The stores were renamed ''Tops Supermarket'', which Ahold borrowed from its U.S. supermarket holding,

Tops Markets Tops Friendly Markets is an American supermarket chain based in Amherst, New York, that operates stores in Upstate New York, Vermont, and Northern Pennsylvania. The chain operates full-scale supermarkets. Tops is a subsidiary of Northeast Groc ...

, but did not reuse its red diamond logo. In December 1996 and 1998, Robinson sold all of its invested shares to Ahold. In 2004, Ahold sold its stake to Central as part of the Dutch company's withdrawal from Asia. In 2004, Central converted 20 former

Food Lion Food Lion is an American regional grocery store chain headquartered in Salisbury, North Carolina, that operates over 1100 supermarkets in 10 states of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States (Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North ...

locations to Tops after their parent,

Delhaize Group Delhaize Group SA (, ) was a Belgian multinational retail company headquartered in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean, Brussels, Belgium, and operated in seven countries and on three continents. The principal activity of Delhaize Group was the operation of f ...

, closed its Thailand supermarket operations.

Store types

* Tops Club The first branch is behind

Central Rama 2 Central Rama 2 (previously known as Central Plaza Rama 2) is a shopping center located on Rama II Road in Bang Khun Thian District, Bangkok, Thailand. The mall opened in 2002. Central Rama II can support people from the Thonburi, Jomthong, and Ba ...

since 28 September 2022 * Tops Plaza is a Shopping Center. In addition, there are main shopping centers such as Tops, Department Store, and cinemas. The first branch is Phichit since 22 December 2017 * Tops Food Hall premium grade supermarket. Recognized as one of "25 grocery stores around the world that you need to visit before you die" by ''The Canadian Grocer''. * Tops Fine Food * Tops high-tier supermarket. * Tops Mini convenience store size of 100–200 square meters.

References

External links

* {{Navigation Ahold 1996 establishments in Thailand Central Group Convenience stores Retail companies established in 1996 Retail companies of Thailand Supermarkets of Thailand