Thai company Berli Jucker is ramping up its expansion into retail with plans to open multi-format stores in several southeast Asian markets.

It has already expanded into Vietnam where it acquired 65 per cent of Thai An, which operates B’s Mart convenience stores in Ho Chi Minh City.

Being a majority owner of the convenience chain operator, Berli Jucker plans to open 20 new B’s Mart stores for the remaining year in addition to the existing 41, and another 100 by next year.

“Our vision is to be a leading retail business in Vietnam by way of a multi-business, multi-format, multi-country strategy,” said Phidsanu Pongwatana, senior VP for Berli Jucker’s retail business group.

Pongwatana said Vietnam’s population of around 90 million makes the country a viable market for retail.

With a goal to become a regional player, Berli Jucker says it will take B’s Mart brand to Laos this year and to Cambodia within the next few years.

Besides convenience stores, Berli Jucker also plans to open supermarkets, hypermarkets and premium warehouses.