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The sale of Thai company Makro's Office Centre office-supplies business to Central Retail Corp. (CRC) will prove beneficial for both parties, Tootoo.com predicts. While it allows CRC to expand its Office Depot network selling office equipment, Makro can now focus its efforts and resources on its core cash-and-carry wholesale food business. Siam Makro managing director Suchada Ithijarukul said the company's decision to locate a new investor for Makro Office Centre. Its choice was CRC, operator of Office Depot, which is known for its quality and expertise, she said. "We're pleased to let the Office Centre business go to CRC, and we believe it'll be a mutually beneficial move," she said. "Siam Makro can now focus on its food-service business, which showed healthy growth of 40 per cent in the first quarter. It's aligning with the business direction that Makro is taking globally." She said Siam Makro opened 12 new Makro cash-and-carry wholesale stores last year. That includes two new Eco stores of 4,000-4,500 square meters each, on Koh Samui and in Krabi. CRC executive vice president Ivor Morton said the conversion of the outlets into Office Depot stores would allow the group to reach more customers. It will build up its inventory and offer more promotions. "We currently run 19 Office Depot stores here, and the combining of another 16 Makro Office Centers into the network will make Office Depot the top retailer in office supplies, with 14 per cent of the market," Morton said. "The stores are expected to have Bt2.6 billion in combined sales, with a total of 45,000 square meters of floor space." It has set a growth target of 10 per cent next year. The company also plans to open three new Office Depot stores next year, including one at the new Central project on Chaeng Wattana Road.