Part of the Bt7bn investment will go towards developing Thailand as a product source. Tesco Lotus, its Thai company plans to export Bt3bn worth of Thai products to the UK this year.

The supermarket has 43 supermarkets and 11 smaller outlets in Thailand, which makes the country its biggest outlet in Asia. Sales grew 45.5 per cent in the area last year and the group employs 28,000 staff across its stores in Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea.

Tesco has invested Bt45.5bn in Thailand since 1998. Tesco Lotus chief executive, Michael Raycraft explained the group, which has already opened two new stores this year, would open another seven by the end of the year and approximately six new outlets per year over the next three years.