Retail Sector

Euromonitor has estimated the retail sales value of packaged foods in Thailand at US$15.4 billion in 2020.  This represents an increase of nearly 20.4% or US$2.6 billion since 2016.  They have also forecast the packaged food retail sales to reach US$19.5 billion by 2025, an increase of 21.7% or US$3.4 billion.  

High growth products in the forecast include:

• Ready Meals
• Processed meat & seafood
• Savory Snacks
• Pet Food
• Baked Goods
• Ice Cream & Frozen Desserts
• Cheese

Post reports that there are three major conglomerates dominating the Thai retail market (i.e., Central Group, TCC Group, and CP Group). Central Group owns supermarket chains Central Foodhall and Tops Market. TCC Group, which also has Thai Beverage (the key alcohol beverage producer under Chang beer, has Big C hypermarkets. CP Group runs 7-Eleven, a convenient store chain with over 12,000 outlets and Makro, which is a cash-and-carry store.

This sector has experienced a continuous growth in comparison to traditional retailers. Competition in this sector is high as Thailand has a total of 19,353 stores nationwide, with 1,113 stores opened in 2020 alone.  Demand for convenient, inexpensive, and time-efficient foods has increased significantly due to changes in Thai society.  Convenience stores serve ready-to-eat meals and fruits, baked goods, a variety of snacks, desserts, coffee, beverages, and other confectionaries.  Food and beverage products account for approximately 71% of all products sold in convenience stores including ready-to-eat foods, bakery products, processed foods, frozen foods, prepared fruits, ice cream, beverages, canned food, etc.

Convenience store operators have also increased healthy food assortments such as ready-to-eat fresh fruits and vegetables, fruit and vegetable juices, functional drinks, low-calorie foods, and healthy snacks to accommodate the need and growth of health conscious and aging customers.  On average, over 11 million customers per day shopped at a convenience store nationwide in 2020.  7-Eleven has launched vending machines that sell food, beverages, and non-food products in some areas not suitable to have a store.  In 2020, the company had over 2,500 vending machines nationwide.

Supermarkets are highly competitive and are concentrated in Bangkok and in other major provinces such as Chiang Mai and Phuket.  Thailand’s supermarket segment has many players including Central Food Retail (Central Food Hall and Tops Supermarket), MaxValu, The Mall Group (Gourmet Market and Home Freshmart), Villa Market, UFM Fuji, and Foodland.  Middle to high income consumers remain the key target segment for supermarkets, driven by a desire for premium products and services.  

Supermarkets are trying to offer imported products by seeking exclusive arrangements with international exporters to offer unique and hard-to-find items to differentiate themselves from their competitors.  Imported food and beverages such as fruits, vegetables, seafood, meat, frozen food, beverages, packaged foods, and organic products are well positioned and recognized by consumers.  Most supermarkets now have dine-in counters (in-store restaurants) for customers to shop raw materials at the retail store for cooking and dine in as well.  This allows them to promote meat and seafood products in their frozen/chilled form, prepared in restaurant menus, or prepared in take-home meals.

The largest two hypermarkets are Tesco Lotus and Big C.  Both hypermarkets offer a wide range of premium products including a wide selection of imported foods targeting middle and high-income customers.  Siam Makro is the membership-based cash and carry retailer.  Its target groups are small and medium-sized businesses including grocery shops, hotel and restaurants, catering, culinary institutions, and food business services providers.  Siam Makro also has its own import division, which delivers frozen imported and local food products such as American fries, cheese, and frozen seafood.

Best Product Prospects:

Post reports that the best product prospects for U.S. suppliers include Major consumer-oriented products from the U.S. States to Thailand include almonds, pistachios, walnuts, raisins, food preparation ingredients, whey, milk and cream, frozen potatoes, apples, grapes, cherries, strawberries, cocoa preparations, beef, seafood, wines, and pet food.

Food Service Sector

Post reports that Thailand’s hotel, restaurant, and institutional food service (HRI) sector is highly competitive and is comprised of approximately 150,000 outlets including some 100,000 restaurants and more than 5,000 hotels and resorts.  The industry has steadily grown driven by continuous growth of the tourism sector as well as an increased propensity of modern urban Thais families to eat out.  There are minimal barriers to entry for newcomers entering the market.  HRI establishments are heavy users of imported products for food preparation, ready-to-eat meals, and catering services for airlines and cruise lines.  In 2019, per capita consumer expenditure on hotels and catering was U.S. $862 per person, a 10% increase from the previous year.

Thailand’s tourism industry has been one of the primary factors of growth for the country’s foodservice industry.  Revenue from foreign tourists was US$54.7 billion in 2019 (revised in Sep 2020), which accounted for 11.1% of GDP, while revenue from Thai tourists was around US$34.9 billion. Roughly 15% of tourism spending is spent in restaurants.  Major tourist destinations, including Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya, have been the hardest hit from the reduced number of international tourists due to Covid 19.

Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) hold a 10% market share for the restaurant sector and have become increasingly popular in Thailand, with an annual growth rate of 8%-10%. Patrons of QSRs in Thailand are a diverse group including traditional families, office workers, teenagers, and tourists.  The QSR market is dominated by franchises, which sell chicken, burgers, bakery products, pizza, ice cream, and breakfast meals.  

Traditionally, about 80% of Thailand’s food franchises are formed through partnerships with U.S. brands (e.g., McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Au Bon Pain, Subway, and Domino Pizza) and non-U.S. brands (e.g., Bonchon Chicken, Chabuton ramen, Mos Burger, and Yoshinoya).  It is estimated that the QSR market will grow to reach nearly US$6.6 billion by 2024.  However, the QSR sector faces a growing challenge from consumers that perceive fast food as unhealthy.  Thai consumers also increasingly focus on healthiness and food quality.

Full-Service Restaurants represent about 10% of all establishments in the restaurant industry.  In Thailand, Japanese restaurants are consumers’ top preference, followed by Italian, Chinese, American, and Vietnamese restaurants.  According to Euromonitor, the overall market sales of full-service restaurants in 2019 were US$6 billion.  Chained full-service restaurants make up just over a third of the full-service sector; their market share has been growing due to increased consumer preference for convenience, hygiene, and high-quality standards.  High-end restaurants reach teenagers and young professionals by offering high quality food in a unique atmosphere.  Many full-service restaurant chains offer takeout and delivery options, which are also popular.

Small Restaurants (SMEs-Small Medium Enterprises) represents 80% of all restaurants in Thailand.  The influence of hypermarkets and shopping center food courts has raised standards for this sector and put increased pressure on street vendors.  However, the street food category had steady growth, while the restaurant category had low growth.  The food delivery category had the highest rate of growth.  SME restaurants have adapted to the competition by finding unique niches that will appeal to specific consumer groups.

Best Product Prospects:

Post advises the best prospects for U.S. suppliers in this sector include frozen and chilled beef, poultry, processed meats (ham, sausage, deli meats), frozen French Fries, hash browns, shoestrings, etc., fresh and frozen seafood such as fish fillets, scallop, lobster, mussel, oyster, halibut, cod fish, Alaska king crab, etc., cheese, processed cheese, whipped topping, sour cream, ice-cream, dips and American spices and seasonings.

Food-Processing Sector

Post reports that Thailand is one of the world’s leading agricultural suppliers, primarily due to its well-developed food processing sector.  The country has one of the most advanced food processing industries in Southeast Asia, which enables Thailand to export value added products.  The food and beverage industry is the country’s third largest industry, contributing 21% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  Major food exports include rice, canned tuna, sugar, chicken meat, cassava products, shrimp, and canned pineapple.  The National Food Institute reported that the value of Thai food exports was US$32.7 billion in 2020.

Thailand’s food processing industry has developed rapidly and is one of the most developed in Southeast Asia.  There are many medium-to-large food processors that produce higher-value products for domestic and export markets.  Thai processed foods exports were valued at US$19.4 billion in 2020.  The packaged food industry is highly fragmented, with the top ten companies controlling only about one-third of the sales value.  Opportunities in Thailand’s food processing sector continue to grow as domestic sales of processed foods rise due to a major shift in consumption pattern towards convenience food.  With rising demand for processed foods, Thai food processors must import large quantities of food ingredients that are not locally available.

Best Product Prospects:

Post advises the best market prospects for the food processing sector include dried fruits, nuts, pulses, plant based proteins, proteins and amino acids, vitamins, minerals, prebiotics and dietary fiber, probiotics, carotenoids, essential oils, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. There is also a growing demand for organic, gluten free, plant-based, and protein boosted food ingredients; - Bakery (both premium and mass market) ingredients including wheat flour, bread improver, dough blend, wheat flour, milk and cream, butter, cheese, dried fruits, potato starch, nuts, pastry fillings, sugar, colors & flavors, etc; - Emulsifying, foaming, stabilizing and thickening agents.

These products are used in frozen foods, bakery products, and ice cream, evaporated milk, and confectionery products; - Colors and flavors.  These products are used in non-alcohol beverages, ice cream, and other dairy products, confectionery products, snack foods, bakery, instant noodles, and a wide range of processed meats; - Sweeteners used in non-alcohol beverages and the confectionery industry.  Beverage manufacturers are reducing sugar content to minimize the impact from the excise tax; - Concentrated fruit juice due to growing demand for new flavors; - Fish fillets for processed seafood, frozen food, and ready-to-eat products.