CP Extra brings Makro Pro tour to Chiang Mai

The event matters economically because Thailand’s mom-and-pop stores remain a key distribution channel in provincial areas, especially in the north, where consumer spending is still spread across traditional retail rather than modern trade. By offering discounts of up to 70% on more than 50 items, along with “Top 10” high-margin grocery selections, CP Extra is trying to help small shops cut costs and preserve profitability in a low-margin business.

The company is also pushing digital tools into a segment that has been slower to adopt them. The show includes Makro PRO app incentives, live-streamed promotions, and an AI-based “Prompt” zone that lets shop owners experiment with store design and merchandising ideas. That points to a broader effort to bring independent retailers into a more data-driven, app-linked buying model that could increase repeat orders and customer stickiness.

For investors, the story is less about a one-off roadshow than about CP Extra’s effort to defend volume, grow B2B relationships and widen the moat around its wholesale and cash-and-carry business. If small retailers keep sourcing through Makro, the company can support traffic, cross-selling and basket sizes even as consumers remain cautious and competition for grocery spending stays tight.

The event also gives CP Extra another channel to showcase its role as a partner to local commerce, with seminars, promotional prizes and in-store activities intended to draw both existing merchants and first-time buyers. That mix of discounting, education and digital engagement suggests the company is using the tour not just to sell inventory, but to lock in a longer-term network of small-store customers.