Tesco meets Thai military leaders

Tesco's expansion in Thailand is under threat as military leaders in Thailand contemplate the role of big business in the country.

The supermarket chain employs over 100,000 people outside of the UK and generates £7.6 billion in sales from its international markets.

In Thailand, the retailer has attempted to deliver a Thai style shop so that locals will feel natural shopping in Tesco.

Tesco stated: "In Thailand, customers are used to shopping at traditional wet markets, interacting with vendors and rummaging through piles of produce to choose what they want.

"Rather than adopting the western approach of neatly packaged, convenient portions, our Rama IV store in Bangkok tries to meet local customers' expectations."

However, the recently displaced Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, was considering an evaluation of big stores like Tesco and the possibility of limiting any expansion.

Since the coup, military leaders have evaluated the situation for themselves and a meeting with Tesco ended with no agreement.

A Tesco spokesperson told the BBC: "There was not a particular resolution to the meeting but we are continuing to talk to the authorities and other people out there.

"Our concept is successful there, the Thais like us and consequently we have every reason to want to carry on with the venture."

Since the coup Thai people have been carrying on with their normal lives, however, the new military leaders have banned political opposition and any form of public protest.