Tesco Lotus unveils next Pracha Rath project, inking MoU with Interior Ministry to purchase OTOP baskets and products as OTOP New Year gift hampers for customers.

Tesco Lotus unveils next Pracha Rath project, inking MoU with Interior Ministry to purchase OTOP baskets and products as OTOP New Year gift hampers for customers.

 

 

 

Tesco Lotus unveils next Pracha Rath project, inking MoU with Interior Ministry to purchase OTOP baskets and products as OTOP New Year gift hampers for customers.

 

28 July 2016 – Tesco Lotus, Thailand’s leading retailer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Community Development Department under the Interior Ministry to purchase handwoven baskets and OTOP products from communities across Thailand, to support the government’s Pracha Rath iniaitive to drive grassroots economy and sustainable growth. The MoU will see Tesco Lotus purchase 12,000 baskets and OTOP products, helping to generate a revenue of more than 15 million Baht for the communities.

 

Mr. Sompong Rungnirattisai, Commercial Director, Tesco Lotus, said: “Tesco Lotus, as the leader in Thai retail for the past 22 years, has consistently supported OTOP operators by acting as a significant distribution channel that reaches more than 15 million customers every week through our 1,800 stores and online shopping platform. We have been working with the Community Development Department over several months to develop the baskets and OTOP products so that they meet market requirements in terms of design as well as quality. The signing of the MoU today marks a significant step in a long process that will see expansions of business opportunities for OTOP operators in the future.”

 

“This project is one of the 22 Pracha Rath projects that Tesco Lotus will carry out throughout this year to celebrate our 22nd anniversary. This tripartite collaboration between the government sector, the people sector, and the private sector, will generate more than 15 million Baht of income for local communities. It also gives our customers an opportunity to buy truly distinctive, handwoven baskets and quality OTOP products, which will make a perfect gift for the holiday seasons this year. The OTOP gift baskets will be available at all Tesco Lotus hypermarkets and the Tesco Lotus Shop Online. The MoU paves way for continued efforts between all three parties to explore future growth opportunities with Tesco Lotus.”

 

Mr. Aphichat Todilokvet, Community Development Department Director-General, said: “The Community Development Department, under the Interior Ministry, has set a vision to promote strong communities built on a solid economic foundation. The department partners with the private sector and communities under the Pracha Rath framework, to generate income and encourage communities to be self-sufficient. Strong communities will in turn lead to a strong nation. Our team has been working with Tesco Lotus for many months to make sure that the baskets and the products they will contain meet the requirements of today’s customers, which is an area of expertise of Tesco Lotus. Thanks to our continued efforts, OTOP products will become more widely recognised and desirable to modern day customers.”

 

Mr. Sompong added that initially, communities in Saraburi and Kanchanaburi provinces will supply 12,000 handwoven baskets and other OTOP products, while Tesco Lotus sells in excess of 300,000 New Year gift baskets every year. Therefore, there is significant room for future growth for OTOP operators to distribute their products through Tesco Lotus.

 

 

“The government’s OTOP Extravaganza campaign, which will run throughout August, should also create excitement in the market and incentivise customers to purchase OTOP products during the month-long campaign. Tesco Lotus has prepared a variety of promotions and discounts on OTOP products, such as discount on participating items, special OTOP booths, and other activities to promote OTOP products during this time. Aside from OTOP products on our shop floor, customers can also buy OTOP products from our tenants in our shopping malls. I’d like to invite our customers to show support for our local communities by purchasing OTOP products as they make perfect gifts or souvenirs,” concluded Mr. Sompong.

Tesco Lotus signs MoU with Interior Ministry to purchase OTOP baskets and products as OTOP New Year gift hampers

 

28 July 2016 – Mr. Sompong Rungnirattisai, Commercial Director, Tesco Lotus, and Mr. Aphichat Todilokvet, Community Development Department Director-General, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties to purchase handwoven baskets and OTOP products from communities across Thailand, supporting the government’s Pracha Rath iniaitive to drive grassroots economy and sustainable growth. The MoU will see Tesco Lotus purchase 12,000 handwoven baskets and OTOP products, helping to generate a revenue of more than 15 million Baht for the communities.

 

 

 

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About Tesco Lotus

 

Tesco Lotus, Thailand’s leading retailer, currently operates approximately 1,800 stores across Thailand under five distinct formats, namely Plus Mall, Extra, hypermarket, Talad and Express, serving more than 15 million customers every week. Tesco Lotus also offers products on the digital platform through two channels: Tesco Lotus Shop Online, where more than 20,000 product items including fresh food are available, and Lazada.com, where more than 8,000 product items are available.

 

Tesco Lotus purchases more than 150,000 tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables from Thai farmers every year, through its direct sourcing programme.