Gourmet Market, soon Big C Hua Hin Marché @ BluPort

[Dannie Boy]

It’s getting the balance between price and quality - at the extremes it probably won’t work!!


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[thecolonel]

I liked Gourmet. And I found their prices to be competitive with Lotus and certainly cheaper than Villa Market. Someone said they were expensive I didn't see that at all


Hope the Big C concept is to my liking

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[Big Boy]

The question I think should be asked is, 'Were the staff lying when asked about what was happening, or were they kept in the dark also?'

[joelle]

It’s getting the balance between price and quality - at the extremes it probably won’t work!!


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We'll just have to wait and see

[caller]

Oh ye of little faith! You should have listened to your uncle caller.

I mentioned to a friend of mine the other week, that Big C it was, but he then surprised me by telling me that the one on the Palu-U road had just been upgraded and enlarged, so that threw me. I've only ever been there once!

The other question now, is just how much of Bluport will they be taking over? Will it just be the current area already used as a supermarket, or will that be extended? If so, I think it will be great and a massive improvement on the declining service provided by Gourmet Market after the Mall Group pulled out, when Bluport staff took over it's running and had to order from Gourmet Market in Bkk whatever they needed. And they didn't manage that very well.

I suspect they will be looking to compete with Lotus, as VM is aimed at a different market and TOPs is too small to be of consequence. I just hope they realise the numbers of expats living here and provide for us appropriately.

[derek60]

Does anyone know the significance of the word "Marche' attachment to the end of 'Big C'. Clearly it means market in French, but does it imply it will be different to a run of the mill Big C?

[Bubba1]

Does anyone know the significance of the word "Marche' attachment to the end of 'Big C'. Clearly it means market in French, but does it imply it will be different to a run of the mill Big C?

Yes think of it as a Hi So Big C with more premium and imported products. They are in Bangkok already

[thecolonel]

Does anyone know the significance of the word "Marche' attachment to the end of 'Big C'. Clearly it means market in French, but does it imply it will be different to a run of the mill Big C?

Bon Marche means good value/good deal/inexpensive

There's a chain of ladies fashion shops in UK trading in that name or there certainly was

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[GroveHillWanderer]

Does anyone know the significance of the word "Marche' attachment to the end of 'Big C'. Clearly it means market in French, but does it imply it will be different to a run of the mill Big C?

Bon Marche means good value/good deal/inexpensive

There's a chain of ladies fashion shops in UK trading in that name or there certainly was

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True, but as @derek60 mentioned, on its own it just means 'market'. And this would appear to be an up-market rather than a down-market version of Big C, or as @Bubba1 puts it, a Hi-So Big C.

Here's a link to an ad for the one in Bangkok - it looks a lot like the Gourmet Market did.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15sbF5ksrC/

[Bubba1]

Oh ye of little faith! You should have listened to your uncle caller.

I mentioned to a friend of mine the other week, that Big C it was, but he then surprised me by telling me that the one on the Palu-U road had just been upgraded and enlarged, so that threw me. I've only ever been there once!

The other question now, is just how much of Bluport will they be taking over? Will it just be the current area already used as a supermarket, or will that be extended? If so, I think it will be great and a massive improvement on the declining service provided by Gourmet Market after the Mall Group pulled out, when Bluport staff took over it's running and had to order from Gourmet Market in Bkk whatever they needed. And they didn't manage that very well.

I suspect they will be looking to compete with Lotus, as VM is aimed at a different market and TOPs is too small to be of consequence. I just hope they realise the numbers of expats living here and provide for us appropriately.

Unfortunately your analysis is almost completely incorrect. They won’t be competing with Lotus as the new store will have products similar to the current one. It’s not a ‘normal’ Big C as I have already stated

[Big Boy]

If you are correct, that will be a shame. Local competition is good, and can stop retailers becoming complacent.

It was the higher prices originally at Bluport that kept me, and many others away. Yes, prices did become more competitive in recent years, but the damage inside my head was already done. Even though prices had become similar, even cheaper for some items at Bluport, my mindset had me automatically going to Lotus's (which I don't like too much either), which is also a little easier to get to for me.

However, when it opens, we'll take a look early on. I hope there is something there to encourage me back, because I've always felt Bluport was a nice store, with untapped potential.

[Bubba1]

The one in Bangkok

https://www.youtube.com/live/L1BXcSFfkD ... asZ7wBIX7d

[Big Boy]

Thanks for that. I got to 25 minutes, but did not see one thing to interest me, so gave up. I'll wait until it opens and have a proper look for myself.

[caller]

Unfortunately your analysis is almost completely incorrect. They won’t be competing with Lotus as the new store will have products similar to the current one. It’s not a ‘normal’ Big C as I have already stated

I hope you're right. I would prefer something better than Lotus, which I personally find much improved on the odd occassion I am there, especially when compared to Tesco. But also something far better than Gourmet Market was after The Mall Group pulled out of Bluport. I am in Bkk now and use Gourmet Market, TOPS and Villa Market! But only for the things the other two don't sell, such as Geetas Mango chutney, which is only available at TOPS. And two of the three are within walking distance of where I stay.

[HarryVardon]

The last few posts seem to assume that it will change to Big C Marché or no Marché. Is this definite or is it still assumptions?