VietNamNet Bridge - Berli Jucker Plc (BJC), the Thai firm that acquired Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam, plans to invest an additional one billion baht ($31.2 million) from now to 2018 to expand its retail network in Vietnam.

According to the Bangkok Post, the company of the third richest billionaire in Thailand, Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, will open 205 convenient stores branded B's Mart in the next four years. It is part of BJC’s business plans after the acquisition of the Metro Vietnam supermarket chain last month, worth $848 million.

Ms. Metinee Issarajinda,  BJC’s Assistant to Vice President in charge of public relations, said after the acquisition of Metro Vietnam, the company will send 10 experts to Vietnam, including Senior Vice President in charge of retail system, Mr. Phidsanu Pongwatana, to help change goods structure.

In the 2013 fiscal year, Metro Vietnam hired 4,000 employees and generated revenue of about $692 million. Currently the system has 19 supermarkets across the country, accounting for 22% of the retail market in Vietnam. However, this unit had a loss of about $12.5 million dollars, and BJC's target is to restructure and make a profit in the next three years.

Berli Jucker is a Thai investment, distribution, marketing and manufacturing group with market capitalization on the stock market of about 88 billion baht ($2.8 billion). BJC's business activities are classified into five major supply chains, including packaging, consumption, healthcare, technology, retail and other supply chains. The group has six offices in South East Asia, with total revenue of approximately $1.3 billion in 2013.

Berli Jucker began pursuing acquisition of Metro Vietnam last year. Previously, BJC partnered with Family Mart Vietnam after the Japanese partner withdrew entirely from this JV. The Family Mart Vietnam retail chain has been renamed B's mart, an old brand of BJC.

Son Tung