Central Department Store and TOPS under Central Retail win at Retail Asia Awards 2026

Two flagship transformations earned Thailand's top honours in department store and supermarket categories.

Central Retail claimed a double win at the Retail Asia Awards 2026, with Central Department Store taking Department Store of the Year - Thailand and TOPS earning Supermarket of the Year - Thailand. Both wins reflect the company's commitment to reimagining retail through design, curation, and elevated service.

Central Chidlom: The Store of Bangkok

Central Department Store Group's recognition follows the successful reopening of Central Chidlom on 12 December 2024. Redefined as The Store of Bangkok, the flagship addresses the challenges of a global luxury landscape through a comprehensive transformation of its 60,000 sqm space.

The transformation strategy rests on four pillars: The Store of Curation, Design, Excellent Services, and Communities. Central Department Store repositioned the store as a luxury flagship where specific zones tell unique stories — including Luxe Galerie, Beauty Galerie, Shoes Avenue, and Sneakers Boulevard. The introduction of 322 new brands and pop-ups in 2025 drove a 25% increase in store sales and a 50% rise in luxury sales compared to the previous year 2024.

Design played a significant role in the store's success, blending world-class architecture with Thai design elements and an illuminating façade. Each floor features a distinct interior identity, whilst the Sky Terrace provides seamless access from the Chit Lom BTS station. These design-led changes supported a 15% increase in footfall versus 2024.

Service excellence was enhanced through the integration of people and technology. Central Department Store equipped its personal shopping team with a proprietary Power App for Personal Shoppers — a clienteling platform that uses AI-powered recommendations to help staff curate selections in real time based on VIP profiles and purchase history. The company also introduced AI Translator Devices to assist frontline staff in communicating with international tourists and expatriates. These efforts resulted in a Net Promoter Score of 78, an increase of 12.6 percentage points from 2024.

Central Chidlom further strengthened by evolving beyond a shopping destination into a year-round platform for culture, lifestyle, and social connection, through communal dining zones with 40 restaurants, curated cultural programming, and signature events all year long. The store brought together art, fashion, music, and gastronomy, such as Thailand Print Making Festival, Matcha x Coffee Fest, and “Wicked: For Good” display, in ways that translated community engagement into measurable business impact, including stronger traffic.

TOPS: A new standard for premium grocery

TOPS' win comes following the launch of its flagship store at Central Park, which introduces a pioneering Food Fashion Department Store retail model to the Bangkok market. The flagship store completely reimagines the traditional supermarket as a premium food destination of the future, treating ingredients and groceries with the same level of care, creativity, and storytelling found in high-end department stores. 

Spanning over 2,400 square metres in Bangkok's Super Core CBD, the store draws design inspiration from Modern Thai Heritage, blending the historical identity of the Silom and Sala Daeng districts with the timeless refinement of a cream and green palette. The retail space is uniquely organised into 16 signature zones, or "Wonders," that mirror fashion departments to create a global runway of taste—including the world-class Ham & Brie cheese and charcuterie destination and a luxurious TOPS CELLAR featuring over 1,500 labels. 

The store offers an extensive selection of over 32,000 items, including exclusive imports, "Only at TOPS" selection, and private labels that provide high-quality alternatives to mainstream brands and offer a true sense of discovery. Beyond food, integrated lifestyle sections such as LOOKS beauty store, Pet 'N Me, and Tops Care seamlessly serve modern urban needs. 

Gastronomy plays a central role in the flagship experience. The space features Eatery Thai with four MICHELIN Guide-recognised restaurants, and a bespoke on-the-spot cooking service allows customers to select world-class ingredients from specialised counters and have them expertly prepared by chefs. Personal shoppers and dedicated specialists support this highly personalised approach throughout, ensuring an elevated and memorable journey. 

The Retail Asia Awards highlights the pinnacle of excellence, innovation, and leadership within the retail industry across the Asia Pacific region. It serves as a benchmark of success, honouring companies and individuals who have made remarkable contributions to shaping the future of retail.

The Retail Asia Awards is presented by Retail Asia Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2027 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's exceptional products or initiatives in the Retail industry, please contact Marni Marco at [email protected].