Gourmet Market, soon Big C Hua Hin Marché @ BluPort

[derek60]

Apparently there are many empty shelves in Gourmet Market and somebody said it was being replaced by a Big C. Please tell me it’s not true!

[404cameljockey]

I would have thought Big C a bit downmarket for Bluport, not that I use Gourmet Market myself, maybe enough others don't also.

[derek60]

I had hoped it was a joke. Seems fairly busy whenever I go there.

[derek60]

Somebody saying Foodland now, which I’ve never heard of.

[Bubba1]

Somebody saying Foodland now, which I’ve never heard of.

Foodland has locations all over the place in Bangkok and Pattaya.

[derek60]

Is it good? As good as Gourmet Market?

Somebody saying Foodland now, which I’ve never heard of.

Foodland has locations all over the place in Bangkok and Pattaya.

[hhinner]

I seem to recall rumours about Foodland well before MV was built.

[joelle]

Is it good? As good as Gourmet Market?

Somebody saying Foodland now, which I’ve never heard of.

Foodland has locations all over the place in Bangkok and Pattaya.

What do you find so particularly good at Gourmet Market ?

[Dannie Boy]

I’ve only been to GM once or twice and can’t remember what I bought (it wouldn’t have been much), but it’s clearly the biggest outlet for western and high quality food in Hua Hin (at least it was when I visited a few years ago). The only drawback is that all of the nice things are so damn expensive - if I bought all my food there I’d be paying double or treble what I normally spend.

[404cameljockey]

I’ve only been to GM once or twice and can’t remember what I bought (it wouldn’t have been much), but it’s clearly the biggest outlet for western and high quality food in Hua Hin (at least it was when I visited a few years ago). The only drawback is that all of the nice things are so damn expensive - if I bought all my food there I’d be paying double or treble what I normally spend.

That's exactly the point, silly expensive for me. I knew it wasn't for me when years ago they had a large display stand with a waterfall and several types of live oysters for sale. Anyone else remember that?

[derek60]

Choice, quality, convenience

Is it good? As good as Gourmet Market?

Foodland has locations all over the place in Bangkok and Pattaya.

What do you find so particularly good at Gourmet Market ?

[HHTel]

I'd agree with DB. Very expensive but you can find stuff you'll not see anywhere else. But you have to pay the price.

[caller]

There were rumours before about Big C and Bluport, but Big C are usually the landlords and not the tenants, as many who go to Bkk and even Korat, will know. Usually they are the main store in the their own premises surrounded by restaurants and other shops, so being on Bluport would be a change in policy for them.

Gourmet Market is the supermarket chain of The Mall Group, who were originally partners with Mr Vana Nava at Bluport, but they pulled out quite a while ago now. If they had taken the supermarket, Sports and Powers Malls with them, I dont know about the Dept. store owndership, there wouldn't have been much left.

I wondered if anyone had noticed the empty shelves and lack of choice, so clearly it's having an effect.

Gourmet Marekts in Bkk and Korat can't be compared to the one in Bluport, which is but a poor shadow of those elsewhere, including the stand alone stores they are now opening. The one in Bluport is not directly managed by the Mall Group, but by Bluport staff, who order what they need and then await for delivery and manage it's day to day operation.

Personally, I am surprised the Mall Group still support this arrangment, as I don't think it's a good advert for the company.

[HarryVardon]

I shop regularly at both BluPort and Market Village. Things that both shops sell are approximately the same price. On rare occasions BluPort is a few Baht more expensive, but not always, sometimes Market Village is more expensive. There is quite a difference in their range of products. Both have products that are not sold at the other shop. The same arguments go for Tops. The total range is smaller and their prices are somewhere between Market Village and BluPort. They also have exclusive products. Villa Market is far and away the most expensive but it does have many products that are not available at the other shops and generally offers very high quality.

[Big Boy]

I think the problem arose in the early days when they (Bluport) were most certainly more expensive almost across the board.

Personally, it created a mental block inside my head - I can't afford to shop in Bluport, and only shop there as a last resort. To this day, I generally avoid Bluport for anything. However, having said that, when I have shopped there in more recent times, my findings have been similar to those of HarryVardon, prices are now competitive.