Central Group is a Thai multinational conglomerate founded by Tiang and in 1947, and still privately owned by the Chirathivat family . Its publicly traded subsidiaries include Central Retail, Central Pattana (commercial real estate development), and Central Plaza Hotel (hospitality group and restaurant operator). Its privately held subsidiaries operate several European department stores, including those acquired from the former KaDeWe Group and Selfridges Group, and financial services.

History Founder Tiang emigrated from Hainan Island to Bangkok in 1925. He set up his first shop in the Thon Buri district on the outskirts of Bangkok across the Chao Phraya River from the city center. He moved across the Chao Phraya River to a location near the grand Oriental Hotel (now the Mandarin Oriental), where he opened a store with his eldest son, Samrit, in 1947. In 1956, the family opened Central Department Store, the biggest department store in Thailand at that time, in Wang Burapa district, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok. The company's property development arm, Central Pattana, was founded in 1980, and opened its first shopping centre, CentralPlaza Ladprao in Chatuchak District, Bangkok, in 1983. Besides expansion through physical presence in the Bangkok retail space, Central Group has in recent years built an online presence among ASEAN e-tailers and a strong presence of luxury department store collection in Europe.

Public subsidiaries

Central Retail + List of Central Retail department stores Name Yearfounded Notes Big C 1993 Central Department Store 1927 One location in IndonesiaImage imggmi.com Go! Lanchi Mart Robinson Department Store 1979 Acquired by Central in 1995 Thai Watsadu 2010 Tops 1996 Robins 2014 Vietnamese rebranding of Robinsons Department Store Zen 1989 Rebranded to Central in 2019

Central Pattana

+ List of Central Pattana properties City Name Yearopened Gross floor area Ayutthaya Central Ayutthaya 2021 Bangkok Central Bangna 2001 2027 Central EastVille 2015 Central Embassy 2014 Central GR9 2011 Central Ladprao 1982 Central Park 2025 Central Pinklao 1995 Central Rama 2 2002 Central Rama 3 1997 Central Ramindra 1993 CentralWorld 2002 Marche Thonglor 2023 The Central Phaholyothin 2026 The Esplanade Ratchada 2021 Chanthaburi Central Chanthaburi 2022 Chiang Mai Central Chiangmai Airport 1996 Central Chiangmai 2013 Chiang Rai Central Chiangrai 2011 Chonburi Central Chonburi 2009 Central Si Racha 2021 Khon Kaen Central Khonkaen 2009 Central Khonkaen Campus 2026 Ko Samui Central Samui 2014 Krabi Central Krabi 2025 Lampang Central Lampang 2012 Nakhon Pathom Central Nakhon Pathom 2024 Central Salaya 2014 Nakhon Ratchasima 2017 Nakhon Sawan Central Nakhon Sawan 2024 Nakhon Si Thammarat Central Nakhon Si 2016 Nonthaburi Central Chaengwattana 2008 Central NorthVille 2003 Central WestGate 2015 2023 Pattaya Central Marina Outlet 1995 Central Pattaya 2009 Phitsanulok Central Phitsanulok 2011 Phuket Central Phuket 2018 Rayong Central Rayong 2015 Samut Prakan 2019 2021 Samut Sakhon Central Mahachai 2017 Shah Alam, Malaysia Central i-City 2019 Songkhla Central Hatyai 2013 Surat Thani Central Suratthani 2012 Ubon Ratchathani Central Ubon 2013 Udon Thani Central Udon 2009

Central Plaza Hotel Central Group owns and manages visitor accommodation at all major Thai tourist destinations and around the world under own banners as well as international brands. Hotels cover every segment from luxury to economy. Central’s own brands comprise Centara Reserve, Centara Grand, Centara Boutique Collection, Centara, Centra by Centara and Cosi, while internationally branded hotels include Park Hyatt Bangkok and Hilton Pattaya. In the Maldives, Centara Grand is opening its fourth location on February 1, 2025. In Japan, Central Group is a co-investor in StayFactory Hotel Group, whose brands include Hotel Hillarys, Hotel Relief, and Hotel Stork. In Switzerland, Central Group has also comprised Central Hotel Zurich company and Globus supermarket.

Central Group has also pioneered restaurant chains in Thailand, and operates well-known local, regional, and international food brands such as Mister Donut, KFC, Auntie Anne’s, Pepper Lunch, Chabuton, The Terrace, Yoshinoya, Ootoya, Tenya, Katsuya and Fezt.

Private subsidiaries European luxury stores + List of Central Group department stores in Europe Country Name Yearfounded Yearacquired Notes Denmark Illum 1891 2013 Germany Alsterhaus 1912 2015 Kaufhaus des Westens 1907 2015 Oberpollinger 1905 2015 Italy La Rinascente 1865 2011 Ireland Arnotts 1843 2022 Joint venture with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund Brown Thomas 1848 1983 Joint venture with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund Netherlands De Bijenkorf 1870 2022 Joint venture with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund Switzerland Globus 1907 2020 United Kingdom Selfridges 1908 2022 Joint venture with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund

Financial services One of Central Group's aspirations towards the New Central New Economy strategy is to create convenience for both merchants and consumers with financial services and Fintech, with the ultimate goal of a cashless society in Thailand.

Credit – The1 credit card, sales finance, personal loans Payment – gift cards, e-payments, e-wallets Insurance brokerage – motor, health, personal accident, property & casualty, group life

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