Mr. Aswin Techajareonvikul, CEO and President of Big C Supercenter Public Company Limited (BIG C), a retail subsidiary under the Berli Jucker Public Company Limited (SET: BJC) group, revealed that BIG C will not be listed in the Stock Exchange of Thailand this year.
This decision stems from the ongoing weak consumer purchasing power and the high volatility of the Thai stock market, which continues to undermine investor confidence and create an unfavorable environment for the listing.
Mr. Aswin stated that the overall economy of 2025 still faces significant challenges, despite the projected GDP growth of 3%. The sluggish purchasing power carried over from the previous year is attributed to low consumer confidence, prompting cautious spending habits. However, signs of slowing down have been observed since the beginning of the year.
To address this, the company plans to launch campaigns to boost consumer spending in the remaining months, with hopes of seeing a more positive momentum by mid-year.
Mr. Aswin also speculated that the outlook in the second half of the year is likely to improve. He added that the key challenge for the retail sector in 2025 remains the stagnant purchasing power. Factors such as stock market volatility, salary adjustments, and bonus payments will play a crucial role in determining consumers’ spending capacity.
The overall economy still requires stimulation, which depends on building confidence, boosting morale, and organizing activities by businesses. Although BIG C’s sales in 3Q24 and 4Q24 achieved double-digit growth compared to the same period last year, driven by increased customer visits to branches and higher purchase frequency, individual purchase amounts may have declined as consumers remain cautious with their spending.
