Central Group is a Thai multinational conglomerate founded by Tiang and Samrit Chirathivat in 1947, and still privately owned by the Chirathivat family . Its publicly-traded subsidiaries include Central Retail, Central Pattana (

commercial real estate Commercial property, also called commercial real estate, investment property or income property, is real estate (buildings or land) intended to generate a profit, either from capital gains or rental income. Commercial property includes office bu ...

development), and Central Plaza Hotel (hospitality group and restaurant operator). Its privately-held subsidiaries operate several European department stores, including those acquired from the former

KaDeWe Group KaDeWe Group GmbH is a group of three department stores in Germany with around 4,000 employees. It is owned by the Thai Central Group. Stores Operating * Kaufhaus des Westens in Berlin *Oberpollinger in Munich *Alsterhaus in Hamburg Future ...

and Selfridges Group, and financial services.

History

Founder Tiang emigrated from

Hainan Island Hainan is an island province and the southernmost province of China. It consists of the eponymous Hainan Island and various smaller islands in the South China Sea under the province's administration. The name literally means "South of the Sea ...

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

in 1925. He set up his first shop in the Thon Buri district on the outskirts of Bangkok across the

Chao Phraya River The Chao Phraya River is the major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial plain forming the centre of the country. It flows through Bangkok and then into the Gulf of Thailand. Etymology Written evidence of the river being referred to by the ...

from the city center. He moved across the Chao Phraya River to a location near the grand Oriental Hotel (now the Mandarin Oriental), where he opened a store with his eldest son, Samrit, in 1947. In 1956, the family opened Central Department Store, the biggest department store in Thailand at that time, in Wang Burapa district, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok. The company's property development arm, Central Pattana, was founded in 1980, and opened its first shopping centre, CentralPlaza Ladprao in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, in 1983. Besides expansion through physical presence in the Bangkok retail space, Central Group has in recent years built an online presence among

ASEAN The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated as ASEAN, is a regional grouping of 10 states in Southeast Asia "that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its ten members." Together, its member states r ...

e-tailers and a strong presence of luxury department store collection in Europe.

Public subsidiaries

Central Retail

Central Pattana

Central Plaza Hotel

Central Group owns and manages visitor accommodation at all major Thai tourist destinations and around the world under own banners as well as international brands. Hotels cover every segment from luxury to economy. Central’s own brands comprise Centara Reserve, Centara Grand, Centara Boutique Collection, Centara, Centra by Centara and Cosi, while internationally-branded hotels include Park Hyatt Bangkok and Hilton Pattaya. In the Maldives, Centara Grand is opening its fourth location on February 1, 2025. In Japan, Central Group is a co-investor in StayFactory Hotel Group, whose brands include Hotel Hillarys, Hotel Relief, and Hotel Stork. In Switzerland, Central Group has also comprised Central Hotel Zurich company and Globus supermarket. Central Group has also pioneered restaurant chains in Thailand, and operates well-known local, regional, and international food brands such as Mister Donut, KFC, Auntie Anne’s, Pepper Lunch, Chabuton, The Terrace, Yoshinoya, Ootoya, Tenya, Katsuya and Fezt.

Private subsidiaries

European luxury stores

Financial services

One of Central Group's aspirations towards the New Central New Economy strategy is to create convenience for both merchants and consumers with financial services and Fintech, with the ultimate goal of a cashless society in Thailand. * Credit – The1 credit card, sales finance, personal loans * Payment – gift cards, e-payments, e-wallets * Insurance brokerage – motor, health, personal accident, property & casualty, group life

Gallery

Central Embassy.jpg,

Central Embassy Central Embassy is a shopping mall in Bangkok. A project of the Thailand, Thai Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Central Group, it was constructed on the site of the former Embassy of the United Kingdom, Bangkok, British Embassy gardens on P ...

, Pathum Wan, Bangkok

References

External links

* {{DJSI World Central Group 1947 establishments in Thailand Companies based in Bangkok Conglomerate companies of Thailand Economic history of Thailand Holding companies established in 1947 Holding companies of Thailand Multinational companies headquartered in Thailand Retail companies established in 1947 Thai brands