Thai supermarket chain Big C said yesterday that their new Mini Big C mobile store is only a prototype, after viral photos of the company’s truck selling groceries in different communities drew criticism from netizens, who said it would steal jobs from local vendors.
In a statement, Big C said that there is currently only one prototype truck running around Bangkok and the surrounding areas as the company is still doing market research on the concept.
“Big C considers ourselves a part of the local community and would like to grow along with it. We thank for all your comments and will greatly take them into consideration,” the statement posted to Facebook reads.
Although the Big C truck looks like it mainly stocks dry food and snacks, the idea that the big company could start bringing groceries right to people’s doorsteps sparked fears that it would ruin the businesses of more familiar mobile fruit and vegetable trucks, which typically drive past people’s homes while advertising their wares via a loudspeaker.
Mega chains such as 7-Eleven, Mini Big C, and Lotus Express are often scrutinized for taking money from local shops.
Last year, the internet went into a frenzy and condemned 7-Eleven after they began serving freshly-cooked omelettes over rice at a few of their shops.
