Bangkok November 1, 2006: Thailand's leading food retailer, Central Food Retail Co., Ltd. (CFR), has opened a new 8,500 sqm. flagship store at CentralWorld, offering variety of premium food & wine to cosmopolitan, in a midst of Bangkok's busiest shopping and tourism districts.

Positioning itself as the best and biggest food and wine shopping experience, and already become famous in many parts of the world as not only the best food store in Thailand, the best food store in Asia, but also one of the reference food stores in the world.

Central Food Hall @ CentralWorld offers a wider array of fine foods and wines from around the world. Breads, meats, seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables as well as prepared foods are available, wrapped in a stylish package and assisted by courteous, informed staff. Spice your cooking with the superior services from Central Food Hall’s international experts, who will show you the appetite of everyday lifestyle.

Mr. Ian Pye, President of Central Food Retail Co., Ltd. said, “With an investment of 350 million baht, our new food store is a phenomena that raised the standard of food retailing in Thailand and Asia. It is designed to be the largest one-stop, all encompassing food hall in Thailand and the region. We are sourcing more than 65,000 imported items from Japan, Europe, Australia, America, and many other top manufacturers on earth for the best products catering for local residents and increasing tourist population.”

Along with thousands of exclusive imported brands, Central Food Hall also supplies an abundance of top quality local produce dailyvered fresh every day.

The new Central Food Hall features the largest cheese counter in Thailand, with over 350 different cheeses ranging from Parmegiano-Reggiano and Stilton to Gorgonzola. The meat department has a wide selection of beef, chicken, lamb, sausages and brochettes. Cooking tips, recipes, expert advice and personal chef service are all included.

It also houses with the largest in-store bakery in Thailand, at which international bakers are available everyday to provide a huge selection of breads, pastries, cakes and buns. Your choice of selections can be a combination of eastern or western bakery style, it contains all range of varieties.    

The wine and spirit department here is also unbeatable. More than 600 different labels are available in 24-hour temperature controlled environment. Customers are provided with detailed information on every item they choose, and be able to unwind at Humidor bar or champagne bar within the wine shop.

A unique selling point is that Central Food Hall @ CentralWorld, in addition to one-stop lunching zone for in-store eating or takeaway, include more than 40 street food vendors offering Asian specialties. The ‘Central Flavor’ is well-equipped foodcourt with more than 1,000 comfortable seats for more impressive eat-in dining experience with greater food and beverage varieties.

This second Central Food Hall has been designed to meet the needs of the people of Thailand, with the abundance, color, high western standards of hygiene and food safety, glorious food from all over the world, served by knowledgeable people. It has been designed for a younger, trendier customer with more foodtainment, serving lifestyle of cosmopolitan. And it is like the younger sister of the big brother at Chidlom.

"Our customers wanted a new, unique and exceptional shopping experience, and that is what we have given them. We want to offer a superior lifestyle food hall to the region. It is a true shopping destination for food lovers and has already set a new standard for food retailing in Asia," said Mr. Pye.