TOPS Supermarkets has launched a unique marketing competition to support its agreement with the Thai Ministry of Commerce to market products from the One Tambon, One Product (OTOP) program through its TOPS stores nationwide.
Under the agreement, TOPS will assign prominent display space to the OTOP products, and also advise on quality standards and presentation to ensure that the products have maximum market appeal.The marketing campaign is being coordinated with the OTOP Marketing and Promotion Committee and TOPS.

"We have been closely involved with OTOP from the early days of the project," says Randy Guttery, President and TOPS Supermarket. "There is no doubting the commercial appeal of the Tambon products, so for TOPS this is both a business decision and a part of our earlier stated commitment to community development via OTOP." Around 200 products from Tambons around Thailand will be marketed by TOPS, with the emphasis on food products but also including other.

To support this, TOPS have launched their own competition for students and the general public to create a marketing plan to promote OTOP products. The media for promotion can be through the TOPS website, TOPS instore radio, posters, or through the universities. Closing date for entries is October 27, with the results being announced on November 15. The total prize of the winners is 70,000 baht. Most of the Tops outlets are located in Central and Robinson department stores, although there are additionally stand alone outlets. The supermarkets are designed for one-stop shopping, carrying a wide range of fresh vegetables and fruits, meat, fish, seafood,groceries, dairy and bakery products. There is also a wide selection of international food items and a line of TOPS-branded products.Mr. Guttery says that TOPS has a continuous programme of supporting social activities both at the national level and privately."Our executive management team, in conjunction with each of our store managers, has allocated an exclusive and high-visibility position within each store location, where OTOP products will be proudly on display to our tens of thousands of weekly shoppers.

"In addition to their presentation and sale, TOPS will be actively assisting Dr. Somkid's government team to help set quality standards for the OTOP products, so that they meet market demands and represent the true cultural identity and ingenuity of Thailand," said Mr Guttery. He added "It's TOPS mission to be a supermarket innovator in Thailand and by participating in the OTOP program, we feel that we're strengthening our own, ongoing commitment to provide the highest quality products to our customers while at the same time, helping promote the talents and wonderful products of Thais from every region and province of the country."

Last year, the SME Fair was staged at 12 TOPS branches to market products from Thailand's small and medium size enterprises. The Fair was organized in conjunction with the Thai SMEs promotion Association. TOPS will further promote OTOP products by including them in their festive hampers.