Central Group acquires Aeon's 30 Thai MaxValu supermarkets

Central Retail (Central Group) has agreed to purchase the Thai subsidiary of Japanese retailer Aeon Co, acquiring the MaxValu chain of 30 supermarkets across Thailand. The deal, financed entirely from Central's internal cash flow, will transfer full ownership of AEON (Thailand) Ltd and its associated assets, including real‑estate and a ready‑meal processing centre, to Central's wholly‑owned subsidiary Central Food Retail (CFR). After completion, all MaxValu stores will be rebranded as Tops and integrated into CFR’s retail network, adding roughly 900,000 customers and expanding the group's grocery footprint.

Aeon’s divestment is part of a broader strategy to shed non‑core overseas operations and concentrate on growth in its home market. The acquisition strengthens Central Group’s position in Thailand’s fast‑moving consumer goods sector, offering economies of scale in logistics, inventory procurement and supply‑chain resilience.

Analysts note that the transaction reflects ongoing consolidation in Southeast Asian retail, where margin pressure and rising freight costs are prompting major players to streamline assets and pursue scale advantages.