Central Food Retail’s TOPS Supermarket boosts EV Truck Expansion
TOPS Takes Action Against the Energy Crisis by Accelerating EV Truck Expansion to 44 Vehicles by Year-End, Strengthening Cost Control and Supply Chain Resilience, with a Target to Reduce Fuel Consumption by 457,000 Litres
Central Food Retail, one of our corporate members, is accelerating the expansion of its EV truck fleet to 44 vehicles by the end of 2026 to strengthen supply chain resilience, reduce energy costs, and cut fuel consumption by more than 457,000 litres annually.
TOPS, under Central Retail, is tackling the energy crisis by accelerating the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) trucks within its logistics operations, with plans to add 20 additional units, bringing the total fleet to 44 by the end of the year. This initiative aims to enhance distribution efficiency across Bangkok, surrounding metropolitan areas, and key regions nationwide, while addressing rising energy cost volatility across the industry. It also supports cost-reduction measures to help mitigate the impact on product pricing, alongside reinforcing confidence in the continued and efficient availability of products across all branches. TOPS targets a reduction in fuel consumption of more than 457,000 litres within 2026.
Mr. Thanawat Jirajariyavej, Managing Director of Central Food Retail under Central Retail, said that “Rising oil prices driven by global energy uncertainty have placed significant pressure on both businesses and consumers’ cost of living. As a result, the adoption of electric vehicles—both personal and commercial, has increased markedly. According to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), as of 31 December 2025, the cumulative number of registered battery electric vehicles (BEVs) reached 372,662 units, representing a 63.83% increase year-on-year. Pick-up trucks and vans rose by 77.22% compared to the same period in 2024, while heavy trucks increased by 38.39%. These figures reflect the growing necessity to reduce reliance on oil and accelerate the development of long-term alternative energy solutions, alongside the advancement of a comprehensive EV ecosystem. TOPS is therefore accelerating its logistics strategy by integrating EV trucks as a key mechanism in supply chain management to enhance transportation efficiency, control costs, and ensure consistent product availability across all branches”.
Currently, TOPS operates a fleet of 24 EV trucks, supporting both temperature-controlled and ambient distribution across Bangkok, the metropolitan area, and major regions nationwide. These vehicles facilitate efficient delivery to TOPS, TOPS FOOD HALL, and TOPS DAILY branches. In 2025, TOPS’ EV trucks recorded a total travel distance of over 1,682,938 kilometres—equivalent to approximately 467 round trips between Chiang Rai and Betong. This initiative reduced fuel consumption of more than 262,568 litres per year, as well as a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of over 690 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
To further address oil price volatility and align with government policies on energy conservation and fuel reduction, TOPS plans to expand its EV truck fleet by adding 20 four-wheel EV trucks, bringing the total to 44 vehicles by the end of 2026. Furthermore, should oil prices reach critical levels, the company has prepared a contingency plan to deploy an additional 20 EV trucks as a special measure. These vehicles will support both temperature-controlled and ambient deliveries, ensuring seamless distribution across Bangkok and the metropolitan area. This initiative aims to enhance logistics efficiency while reducing energy costs and environmental impact, targeting an additional reduction in fuel consumption of over 457,000 litres per year and cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 1,202 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Energy reduction remains a key pillar of TOPS’ environmental strategy, alongside improving service efficiency and advancing sustainable Green Logistics. This initiative forms part of the company’s ‘12 Missions to Sustainable Retail’ under the CRC Care philosophy, specifically within the ‘Care for the Environment’ dimension, aiming to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050.
“We remain firmly committed to managing costs efficiently to ensure that fluctuations in oil prices do not disrupt product distribution or replenishment. Moving forward, we will continue to develop sustainable logistics solutions to strengthen our supply chain and reinforce TOPS’ position as a trusted food retail leader, standing by Thai consumers in every situation”, Mr. Thanawat concluded.
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