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Tag: Cambodia

  • Parkson expands into food to stem losses

    Parkson expands into food to stem losses

    Hit with a 15 per cent sales slump since the introduction of GST in Malaysia, embattled department store operator Parkson is set to enter new categories – gourmet food, supermarkets, beauty  – and import new fast fashion brands.

    The company has invested RM100 million (US$22.8 million) into a rebranding and repositioning project.

    It will also introduce variations of its reform into other countries where it operates: Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Myanmar and Cambodia.

    Parkson Retail Asia director Datuk Magic Lee said in a media briefing that the group expected sales to fall as much as 15 per cent after GST came into effect and that the company has also been hit by a heavy devaluation of the ringgit.

    “We will keep doing this. Retail needs to keep changing or it will get boring. We will continue investing in new businesses, bringing in new brands, even in food and beverage. We plan to bring in a bakery in the future.”

    Parkson plans to launch three “affordable” fast fashion brands from Korea into Malaysia soon, targeting about RM60 million in annual sales from the stores in stores. Those brands are Spao, Mixxo and Who.A.U. The first concessions will open on November 27.

    Lee says the company plans to build a portfolio of about 100 brands in its apparel offer and will also continue to open new stores throughout the region.

    “At the moment, we are very aggressive in South-East Asia. In Malaysia, we open three or four new outlets each year, and in Indonesia between three and five outlets,” he said.

    “In Southeast Asia, we are still fairly competitive. Competition here [in Malaysia] is not so severe. Many strong brands have not come to Southeast Asia yet, so we can bring these brands in.”

    Lee says while the company expects the weak consumer sentiment in Malaysia to continue, the company plans to remain proactive “so when the market is ready, we are ready too”.

    He hopes the rebranding campaign will fuel at least a 50 per cent rise in sales year on year.

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  • Worldhotels Expands the Frontier of Luxury with Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel & Residence

    Worldhotels Expands the Frontier of Luxury with Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel & Residence

    Occupying a luscious spot on the confluence of the Mekong, the Bassac and TonléSap, Phnom Penh is a city that has witnessed extreme ups and downs. Discover an enigmatic kingdom of fabled pagodas, thriving local markets, sweeping French boulevards and eclectic natural beauty with Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel & Residence, the newest addition to Worldhotels’ exclusive collection of 450 independent hotels worldwide.

    Strategically located on Chroy Changvar peninsula opposite the Royal Palace and an estimated 13km from Phnom Penh International Airport, Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel & Residence is an antidote to the chaotic cacophony of the city. With a host of top-notch amenities and exemplary service standards that expand the frontier of luxury, the hotel represents a new standard for five-star hospitality in Cambodia’s capital city. 

    Doorway to a bygone era

    Opportunities for cultural and historical discovery await travellers on Phnom Penh’s centuries-old attraction sites where strains of history combine in a vivid montage of French and Cambodian influences.

    Nearby sites of interest include Wat Phnom, the main temple perched on a grassy hilltop that marks the legendary founding place of Phnom Penh, accessible via a six-minute drive from the hotel. A resplendent symbol of the Kingdom, Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace is a nine-minute drive away. Located just north of the Royal Palace is the National Museum which houses the world’s earliest and rarest archaeological, religious and artistic Khmer artefacts from the fourth to the 13th century.

    From traditional souvenirs to fresh produces, shoppers can purchase a diverse range of merchandise at Phsar Thmey, or Central Market, a unique colonial-style building just a stone’s throw from the hotel. Guests may also embark on historical sunset cruises along the riverfront and contemplate the footprints of different generations that shaped Phnom Penh’s colonial era.

    Commodious accommodations fit for royalty

    Contemporary and bright; airy and inviting, guests will feel perfectly at ease in one of 523 tastefully appointed guest rooms and suites offered across eight categories, including the largest Deluxe room in Phnom Penh. The luxury of space extends to an expansive bathroom with freestanding bathtub and a separate walk-in rain shower.

    Bedecked in a soothing palette of cream and warm tones, most guest rooms afford views of the spectacular Chaktomuk River, or verdant greens that invigorate the senses. Each of these spacious havens features hardwood floors and elegant period furnishings that evoke a timeless refinement, replete with contemporary conveniences including Wi-Fi access, Japanese high-tech washlet, and flat screen LCD TV with international satellite channels. 

    Top-class meeting venues and recreational amenities

    An excellent venue for hosting a year-round calendar of conferences, meetings, private functions and dream weddings, Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel & Residence offers an extensive range of event spaces and meeting facilities including a 2,728 square-metre grand ballroom with a capacity of 3,100, arguably the kingdom’s largest ballroom.

    Eight highly-versatile function rooms – a combination of close to 900 square metres – can accommodate up to a total of 1,050 attendees. Coupled with leading edge audiovisual and modern translation equipment as well as high-speed internet access, the hotel prides itself on putting together events that engage and inspire.

    Sized at 1,650 square metres, the hotel also houses thelargest swimming pool in Phnom Penh that provides stunning views of the river. Among other offerings is a KTV Studio featuring 36 private karaoke rooms and an established night club on the 19th floor overlooking Tonlé Sap and Mekong River, perfect for a sundowner or after-dark entertainment.

    Guests may pick from a complete range of therapies and treatments at Jasmine’s Spawith 17 private treatment rooms for hours of uninterrupted escapism.

    An eclectic mix of international dining

    Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel & Residence invites guests to embark on a diverse gastronomic journey.

    Lotus is an all-day dining restaurant offering a selection of international buffet amidst scenic river views. The China House presents regional Chinese specialties from Guangdong, Sichuan, Hunan and Beijing; while The Bel Cibofeatures culinary presentations inspired by Tuscany and the northern regions in Italy. Also perched on the 19th floor is Takezono, the only “sky-high” Japanese restaurant in Phnom Penh that dishes up authentically prepared and immaculately presented signature Japanese favourites.

    “We are truly honoured to be represented by yet another outstanding property in Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel & Residence. This affiliation will reaffirm the positioning of Worldhotels at the forefront of curating some of the world’s finest hotels and underscore the commitment to growing our portfolio in the Indochina market with surging international interest,” remarks Roland Jegge, Worldhotels Executive Vice President Asia Pacific.

    “We look forward to harnessing our in-depth market knowledge and stellar reputation to win over more travellers with the quality accommodation and personalised service that our collection of hotels have become trusted to deliver – and Sokha Phnom Penh being the answer to the rising demand of today’s travellers’ desire for alluring luxury travel experience.”

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  • Olympia Plaza mall planned for Phnom Penh

    Olympia Plaza mall planned for Phnom Penh

    A new US$60 million, seven-story shopping centre is to be built in downtown Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia.

    Olympia Plaza will be built by Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation (OCIC), to be located inside its mixed-use Olympia City project in central Phnom Penh.

    “We will invest $60 million in construction costs alone to build Olympia Plaza,” said Touch Samnang, deputy director-general of OCIC.

    “If there are no changes in the plans, [the mall] will be finished by the middle of 2017.”

    The centre will have 100,000 sqm of retail space for lease. Anchors and details of property management, have yet to be revealed.

    Construction has already commenced.

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  • Ascend expands its Asean reach

    Ascend expands its Asean reach

    “The move is to drive Ascend, both iTrueMart and Weloveshopping, to be the e-commerce market leader in the AEC by 2018,” Punnamas Vichikulwongsa, president of Ascend Group, said yesterday.

    According to Euromonitor 2015, the report of Euromonitor International, a business-intelligence research house, the business-to-consumer e-commerce market in the AEC will grow by 20 per cent per year to US$7 billion (Bt249 billion) in 2017 from nearly $5 billion this year.

    Thailand’s e-commerce market is worth about Bt42 billion with annual growth of 20 per cent.

    The company will engage in operating, fulfilment including warehousing and logistics, and marketing actives in seven countries in the AEC – the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar and Cambodia.

    It will start with the Philippines by the end of this year and follow with the other six countries in 2016.

    The AEC market should help double its sales to Bt6 billion next year from Bt3 billion this year, which all comes from the Thai market.

    E-commerce in Thailand and the AEC has high potential since it now accounts for only 1 per cent of total retail shopping. In five years, it will be about 7-8 per cent of the retail industry in Thailand.

    E-commerce makes up 9 per cent in the United States and 13 per cent in the United Kingdom.

    “E-commerce is a market for the big boys, since it needs huge capital. In each market, there are only one or two e-commerce players dominating the market. We want to be ‘top of mind’ in the e-commerce business in the region,” he said.

    The business model of iTrueMart is different from Weloveshopping. iTrueMart acts as an online shopping department while Weloveshopping serves as a e-commerce marketplace.

    Ascend claims itself as the e-commerce leader in Thailand with 14,000 orders per day, split evenly between the two websites.

    Seubsakol Sakolsatayadorm, general manager of the iTrueMart division at Ascend Commerce, said iTrueMart’s conversion rate of 4.2 per cent of visits was higher than the market average of only 2 per cent.

    At iTrueMart, information-technology gadgets and accessories are still the largest contributor at 70 per cent. Orders have gone up fivefold this year since product categories were diversified from hard lines to soft lines, such as personal care and beauty products, and home lines such as household appliances.

    “The latest is a mum-and-kids category, since it is one of the largest in e-commerce in many countries,” he said. ITrueMart has invested heavily in fulfilment, warehouses and logistics. It has more than a million products, or more than 20,000 stock-keeping units, stored in its warehouse. The company delivers products through its own distribution system in Greater Bangkok with a 20-vehicle fleet and outsourcing to logistics partners.

  • Cold Stone Creamery Cambodia plans 13 stores

    Cold Stone Creamery Cambodia plans 13 stores

    Kahala Brands has appointed a master franchisee for Cold Stone Creamery Cambodia, with the first store set to open in six months.

    Over the next five years, 13 Cold Stone Creamery locations will open in Cambodia, the first scheduled for the capital city Phnom Penh sometime during the next six months.

    TH Group has won the master franchise rights to open locations throughout Cambodia.

    TH Group is a leader in the automotive market, with over 20 years of experience in Cambodia. It holds 35 per cent of the auto market share in the country, making it the largest importer/wholesaler of US automobiles in Cambodia, selling new and used luxury cars.

    “Our economic growth here in Cambodia has risen and to us, that implies that the standard of living is improving here,” said Hav Norm, MD of TH F&B Co.

    “Therefore, the people of Cambodia are looking for premium, high-quality brands that they can indulge in and trust. Cold Stone Creamery is a super-premium brand that will be a perfect fit in our market.”

    “We are extremely confident in TH Group as they have more than 20 years of experience in Cambodia and have great in-depth and comprehensive knowledge of the marketplace,” said Eddy Jimenez, senior VP of international operations and development at Kahala.

    “TH Group understands consumer demands, preferences and perceptions, making it a business leader in its country.”

    Cold Stone Creamery has continued to make strong key moves into the international market over the last decade. Today, Cold Stone Creamery stores are operating in over 300 international locations and in 26 countries abroad, including Japan, the Philippines, Kuwait, Qatar, Trinidad, Nigeria, Egypt and Indonesia. Kahala signed up a master franchisee in Vietnam in June.

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  • Japan’s Owndays to enter Thailand, Cambodia

    Japan’s Owndays to enter Thailand, Cambodia

    Tokyo-headquartered Owndays will open its first stores in Thailand and Cambodia in October.

    The retailer, which produces and sells fashionable and trendy eyewear, already operates 130 shops in Japan, Singapore, Taiwan and China. It plans to open 100 new stores in Southeast Asia during the next five years.

    The first Thai store will open in Bangkok’s Mega Bangna shopping centre, the first Cambodian store in Aeon Mall, Phnom Penh.

    Owndays believes its pricing structure and speedy turnaround will set it apart from local eyewear retailers.

    Where most optical shops charge customers for frames and lenses separately, and require high optional charges depending on types of lenses, making pricing systems complicated and difficult to understand, Owndays keeps its pricing system simple. It has eliminated additional charges for all single-vision lenses and offers all glasses at set prices indicated on its frames – there’s no additional charges for lenses no matter what customer-required lenses are.

    “This is a very unique and very customer-friendly pricing system in the eyeglass industries of the region,” said a spokesperson.

    Every Owndays shop has a wide range of and large number of stock lenses, enabling staff to provide customers with spectacles in as little as 20 minutes after the payment.

    Owndays launched its business operations in Southeast Asia in July 2013, and now operates 14 shops in Singapore and six shops in Taiwan.

    The company has established its own overseas business model through its independent pricing system and services and is rapidly expanding its business activities.

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  • Starbucks to open first store in Cambodia

    Starbucks to open first store in Cambodia

    Starbucks Coffee Company is set to open its first location in Cambodia by the end of 2015, making the country its 16th market in the fast-growing China/Asia-Pacific (CAP) region.

    The store opening is made possible through its licensing agreement with Coffee Concepts (Cambodia) Limited, which is part of Hong Kong Maxim’s Group.

    The first location will open at the newly expanded Phnom Penh International Airport and will be followed by the second store opening in early 2016 in downtown Phnom Penh.

    “Cambodia is a vibrant country with a rich cultural heritage, and we are proud to bring the  Starbucks Experience to this market,” said John Culver, group president, China/Asia Pacific, Channel Development and Emerging Brands, Starbucks Coffee Company.

    Starbucks currently operates more than 5,200 stores and employs more than 80,000 employees in the CAP region. It operates more than 150 stores in Hong Kong and Macau and 15 stores in Vietnam through Viet Idea Food and Beverages Limited, a sub-licensee of Coffee Concepts (Vietnam) Limited, also a subsidiary of Hong Kong Maxim’s Group.

    “We look forward to becoming a part of Cambodia’s local coffee culture, embracing its traditions and sharing our deep passion and knowledge of the best coffees from around the world,” Culver added.

  • Aeon Cambodia to build second mall

    Aeon Cambodia to build second mall

    Japan’s Aeon is to build a second shopping mall in Cambodia’s capital city Phnom Penh.

    The news was revealed on the first birthday of Aeon’s first Cambodia mall, which it says has attracted 15 million visitors.

    The new mall will be built about 10km north of Phnom Penh’s CBD in the Pong Peay City, a new residential and commercial development by the LYP Group on the city’s north side.  LYP is owned by prominent local businessman and ruling party senator Ly Yong Phat.

    With a 151,000 sqm footprint it will be significantly larger than the first mall, which is 108,000 sqm. The gross leasable area will be 70,500 sqm.

    Like all of Aeon’s malls in Asia, the centre will be anchored by an Aeon supermarket. Supporting retailers will include Japanese brands who partner with Aeon in new developing markets and international brands such as Puma, Adidas and Levi’s.

    Aeon Asia MD Washizawa Shinobu said his company is confident Cambodia’s emerging middle class will make the new centre a success, aiming to attract 10 million visitors in its first year.

    “I am sure Cambodian people will be richer with economic growth like that, which means they will buy more products,” he said.

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  • Huawei hails SE Asia success

    Huawei hails SE Asia success

    Smartphone maker Huawei says its determination to concentrate on Southeast Asia is already bearing fruit.

    With the profitable Southeast Asia regional launch of the Huawei P8 and wearable units in Bangkok Thailand in late Might, Huawei is retaining the momentum going by introducing the P8, P8Max, P8Lite, Talkband B2 and AP007 energy financial institution to Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and different Southeast Asia nations and areas.

    The corporate says it set a brand new gross sales document in Myanmar when it launched the P8 handset there on June 6.

    After two weeks of pre-orders of Huawei’s newest flagship merchandise, the primary batch of P8s turned obtainable in 28 outlets throughout Myanmar – all of them bought out by 10am.

    “The regional gross sales supervisor from one among telephone store famous that the P8 has set a brand new gross sales document and has turn into the best-selling handset of their store’s historical past and that they have been amazed by the variety of preorders,” stated Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Shopper BG.

    says Southeast Asia is now one of many key markets for Huawei, and the corporate is optimistic concerning the potential within the area.

    “Southeast Asia is likely one of the most promising and high-potential financial entities on the earth, each now and sooner or later. It’s considered a strategic market and an engine driving the quick progress of Huawei’s Shopper Enterprise,” Yu stated.

    “In 2014, Huawei noticed over 10 million complete shipments on this area. With the launch of the P8, P8Max and P8Lite this yr, we anticipate complete shipments to succeed in eight million models, a 167 per cent improve.”

    The corporate has seen substantial progress in regional shipments within the area. Thomas Liu, president of Huawei Shopper Enterprise Group Southeast Asia, stated within the first quarter of 2015, smartphone shipments in Southeast Asia rose 120 per cent over final yr.

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  • DFS to Open T Galleria Store near Angkor Wat

    DFS to Open T Galleria Store near Angkor Wat

    Today, BoF can exclusively reveal that luxury travel retail company DFS is set to open an 8,000-square-metre retail complex near the world heritage site of Angkor Wat in Cambodia in 2016.

    Luxury travel retailer DFS is set to enter Cambodia in 2016 with a 8,000-square-metre ‘T Galleria’ retail complex (the ‘T’ stands for traveller) to be housed in a building shared with the Angkor National Museum in the provincial capital of Siem Reap, gateway to the world heritage site Angkor Wat which accounted for almost 30 percent of the 4 million international visits to the country in 2013.

    The new retail space will sell fashion and accessories, watches and jewellery and beauty from brands in DFS’s portfolio of over 700 brands including Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Louis Vuitton and Bottega Veneta, alongside a selection of locally crafted pieces.

    “T Galleria by DFS Angkor will be a prime attraction for visitors, particularly in the hottest periods of the day. Visitors will be able to indulge their taste for renowned international luxury brands and local artisanship in pleasant surroundings that pay homage to local culture and design, reflecting the rich traditions of this unique destination,” said DFS chairman and CEO Philippe Schaus.

    In recent years, travel retail has become a highly lucrative component of a successful luxury strategy, with growth outstripping that of the luxury market as a whole. “Travel retail has been growing at about 12 percent in the past few years. A similar growth is expected in the next two to three years, putting it at double the growth rate for the luxury goods market,” Luca Solca, head of luxury goods research at financial services firm Exane BNP Paribas, told BoF earlier this year.

    DFS has kept a close watch on Cambodia, where the tourism industry increased contributions to the country’s overall GDP by 10.2 percent in 2014, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. What’s more, in the first six months of the year, an increase in direct flights between Cambodia and China boosted visits between the countries by 20 percent.

    “A significant number of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asian and Western visitors are already visiting each year and numbers are expected to grow further, especially from China,” added Schaus. “We expect the total number of visitors to Cambodia and to Siem Reap to double by 2020, according to sources including the Asian Development Bank.”

    In September, DFS announced plans to enter Europe with a full restoration of Venice’s Fondaco dei Tedeschi, first built in 1228, which will house another T Galleria, also set to open in 2016. “It’s too early to announce any other plans for world heritage sites but we are keeping a close eye on every destination that our customers visit,” commented Schaus.

    Majority-owned by LVMH’s Selective Retailing Division, DFS boasts a global network of over 420 locations on three continents and continues to operate a dual business model, comprised of duty-free stores at major airports and ‘Galleria’ stores located in global travel hubs, though over time the company’s strategy has shifted away from duty-free stores towards full-priced retail.

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  • Lotus Foods helps small rice farmers grow their income

    Lotus Foods helps small rice farmers grow their income

    Lotus Foods, a global innovator in the production and marketing of specialty rice, joined the Business Call to Action with a commitment to increase the incomes of at least 3,000 farm households by 2017.

    The company is paving the way to market for smallholder farmers in Africa and Asia who adopt the ecological method of rice cultivation known as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI). This helps farmers to grow rice more sustainably to make livable incomes as well as to offer healthier rice choices to consumers.

    Established in 1995, Lotus Foods has become dominant in linking marginalized farmers to major markets, having pioneered the introduction of heirloom black and red rice into the United States.

    The SRI production method, which is being applied by more than 10 million farmers in more than 50 countries, helps farmers generate surpluses by doubling their rice yields with less water, land, chemicals and greenhouse gas emissions.

    Introduction of this growing method to its farmer-producers led Lotus to surpass its early goals and increase the amount of SRI-produced rice it buys from organic-certified farmers in Cambodia, Indonesia and Madagascar. Initially the rice was sold only in bulk, but in 2010 the company launched its heirloom varieties for retail customers.

    Suba Sivakumaran, Business Call to Action (BCtA) Programme Manager, said: “Fair trade, organic and healthy products are among the food industry’s fastest growing trends – we are pleased that Lotus Foods has seized the opportunity to improve farmers’ productivity, enhance developing economies and protect the environment.”

    Lotus has been an important catalyst for farmers to obtain organic and fair trade certifications, in addition to producing according to SRI methods, in order to earn higher export premiums.

     

  • Krispy Kreme Cambodia deal

    Krispy Kreme Cambodia deal

    Krispy Kreme has signed a development agreement with a master franchisor in Cambodia.

    The Express Food Group (EFG) will open 10 Krispy Kreme Cambodia shops over the next five years.

    “This agreement will further strengthen Krispy Kreme’s brand position throughout Asia and will enable us to bring our mission of touching and enhancing lives through the joy that is Krispy Kreme to the people of Cambodia,” said Dan Beem, Krispy Kreme’s senior VP and president – international.

    “One of the keys to the success of Krispy Kreme in any country is working with top-quality franchisees, and EFG is an experienced company dedicated to delivering an exceptional customer experience.”

    A member of Bangkok-based RMA Group, EFG was founded in 2004 and currently employs more than 1200 Cambodians at its 42 restaurants from a variety of QSR and casual restaurants, including Swensen’s, Costa Coffee, The Pizza Company and Dairy Queen. The company also operates 15 food and beverage outlets in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports.

    “We are very proud and excited to introduce Krispy Kreme to the Cambodian market,” said Jean-Boris Roux, regional director of RMA Group’s food division.

    “EFG has always been determined to bring strong leading brands to this country, and we are confident that Cambodians will quickly embrace Krispy Kreme’s signature sweet treats and the entire Krispy Kreme experience.”

    North Carolina-based Krispy Kreme now boasts more than 1000 retail shops in 24 countries.

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  • Pastamania wins Cambodia entry

    Pastamania wins Cambodia entry

    Singapore foodservice operator Commonwealth Capital Group is to enter Cambodia with two F&B brands – Pastamania Casual Dining Restaurant and Gelatofix Italian Gelateria and Cafeteria.

    A franchise agreement has been signed between Commonwealth subsidiary PastaMatrix International and an as yet unidentified local Cambodian company operating in retail and real estate.

    “We expect to open the first flagship outlet for both PastaMania & Gelatofix in the third quarter of 2015 at an exclusive heritage site in Phnom Penh overlooking the scenic Mekong River,” said Yin-Yin Yeo, MD of international business.

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    “The location is widely frequented by local trendsetters and tourists. It will serve as a landmark site for a memorable dining and chill out experience,” she said.

    Commonwealth expects to open six PastaMania and Gelatofix stores in total over the next 18 months.

    Yeo said both PastaMania and Gelatofix will provide “more exciting dining and hang out options” for the maturing Cambodian market, she said.

    “PastaMania features the widest range of great tasting pasta dishes along with authentic Italian pizza that suit the taste buds of Cambodians. We will also be the first in the market to launch an authentic Italian gelato coffee shop chain under Gelatofix.”

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    PastaMania is the largest Italian casual dining chain in Singapore with more than 50 stores in eight countries. It offers affordable authentic Italian cuisine with ambience modelled after the Italian piazza concept.

    Gelatofix features creamy gelato cones dripped with dark chocolate created by Italian celebrity chef Ernst Knam and serves up a variety of dishes ranging from desserts to all-day-breakfasts and Italian risottos. The Gelatofix store format was designed by Italian architect Stefano Ricci.

    Yeo says Cambodia has strong economic growth running above seven per cent since 2011, a young population (50 per cent aged below 25) and a more open and vibrant market.