- Welcomes Senior Australian Delegation Led by The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Assistant Minister for Immigration, Together with Mr. Pablo Kang, Australian Ambassador to Thailand, to Deepen Trade Collaboration and Launch “Australia on a Plate” Featuring Fletcher Lamb
TOPS, under Central Retail, is building on the growing momentum of Thailand–Australia economic and commercial relations to further strengthen its role as a key retail platform connecting quality Australian products with Thai consumers. Australian-origin products at TOPS recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12% between 2021 and 2025, solidifying Australia’s position as the second-largest international country of origin for products sold across TOPS.
Marking the latest milestone in this longstanding partnership, TOPS recently hosted a senior Australian government and trade delegation at TOPS FOOD HALL, Dusit Central Park, to deepen cooperation and explore new pathways to expand the presence of Australian produce in Thailand. The visit coincided with the official launch of “Australia on a Plate”, featuring the introduction of Fletcher Lamb at TOPS as a tangible commercial outcome of continued collaboration among government, industry, and retail partners.
The milestone builds on continued momentum in bilateral ties, reinforced by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s Guest of Government visit to Australia in August 2026, during which Central Group joined the Thai business delegation. The visit underscored the important role of the private sector in advancing bilateral commercial ties and provided further impetus for businesses in both countries to deepen cooperation and unlock new opportunities for trade and investment. As Australia and Thailand approach the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027, both countries are looking to further expand cooperation across trade, investment, and people-to-people links.
Advancing this trade partnership, the visiting delegation to TOPS was led by The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Assistant Minister for Immigration, together with Mr. Pablo Kang, Australian Ambassador to Thailand; Ms. Catherine Gallagher, Head of Southeast Asia, Austrade and Mr. Cameron Allan, Trade and Investment Commissioner, alongside other senior Australian officials and company representatives.
The delegation was welcomed by Mrs. Supatra Chirathivat, Advisor to Central Group, Corporate Relations & Social Affairs; Mr. Thanawat Jirajariyavej, Managing Director, Central Food Retail Group under Central Retail and Mr. Chakkit Chatupanyachotikul, Head of Marketing, Public Relations & CSV of Central Retail Food; and senior company executives.
Mr. Thanawat Jirajariyavej, Managing Director, Central Food Retail under Central Retail, said, “The strong economic and trade relationship between Thailand and Australia continues to create dynamic opportunities for businesses and consumers in both countries. According to the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, two-way trade in goods and services reached approximately AUD 32.4 billion in 2025, while bilateral trade has nearly tripled since the Thailand–Australia Free Trade Agreement (TAFTA) entered into force in 2005.
The recent Guest of Government visit to Australia by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, joined by a Thai business delegation including Central Group, has further reinforced this positive momentum and opened new opportunities for the private sector to deepen commercial collaboration between the two countries.
For TOPS, Australia has long been one of our most essential sourcing markets. Australian-origin product sales at TOPS recorded a steady CAGR of 12% from 2021 to 2025, establishing Australia as our second-largest international country of origin. This success is rooted in our longstanding collaboration with Austrade and Australian partners, enabling us to continuously introduce high-quality products to Thai households.
Looking ahead, we see immense opportunity to deepen this partnership. Active support from Australian states and Australia’s world-class traceability standards give us full confidence to expand across key growth categories: meeting rising Thai demand for premium, science-backed wellness and ‘beauty-from-within’ supplements; strengthening the strong popularity of Australian wines among our customers at TOPS WINE CELLAR; and collaborating with state partners to co-create hero items like Australian lamb and regional specialties. These efforts will bring greater variety, quality, and value to Thai consumers,” Mr. Thanawat concluded.
Today, TOPS offers 1,550 Australian products, serving as a premier retail platform in Thailand. The assortment spans fresh produce, red meat, seafood, dairy, packaged foods, and beverages. In 2025, over 70% of Australian product sales at TOPS were contributed by Alcohol, Produce, Dairy, Deli & Frozen, and Meat & Seafood.
Highlighting this portfolio are exclusive, premium Australian brands and direct imports designed to cater to modern consumer trends. In fresh meats, TOPS features MSA-certified premium red meats including exclusive brands like Tajima Australian Wagyu and Grainge Black Angus. In fresh produce, long-term direct partnerships with Australian growers deliver best-in-season My Choice Australian strawberries, alongside unique direct-import items like crisp Snackable baby carrots and premium Australian onions. To support growing health and convenience trends, TOPS has expanded its dairy and dip range with Symons Organic cheeses and easy-to-use Avofresh avocado spreads.
The “Australia on a Plate” campaign highlights this diversity through chef demonstrations, interactive tastings, and in-store showcases delivered in partnership with leading Australian industry bodies, including Avocados Australia, AUSVEG, and Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). Central to the promotion is the launch of Fletcher Lamb at TOPS—a premium, fully Halal, vertically integrated Australian sheepmeat processor whose first shipment reached Thailand in 2026 following an Austrade-facilitated buyer mission.
