In our Stores Around the World series, let’s discover Ben’s Independent Grocer (B.I.G.) in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia 🇲🇾. This store is one of the most amazing we’ve visited, comparable to Wegmans and Lowe’s Food in the U.S., offering an elevated, almost artistic, shopping experience
It perfectly blends a traditional market feel, with counters offering fresh produce, alongside a broad range of local and international products—all within an industrial-chic layout. Combined with outstanding event celebrations, it creates an unique immersive shopping experience. On top of that, the Eat.Drink.Shop concept lets you enjoy, in store, fresh oysters while taking a break from grocery shopping
Before diving deeper into this incredible store, let’s take a quick look at the Malaysian grocery retail landscape
The Modern Retail Revolution is ON!
KL is home to a world-class retail scene, with many stores offering premium shopping experiences on par with well-established retail markets
This transformation is also evident in grocery retail, where traditional markets now account for around just 25% (compared to 76% in Indonesia). Modern grocery retail is already well-developed and continues to expand, growing from US$14.5 billion in 2023 to a projected US$18.6 billion by 2028
Click on graph for best experience
Supermarkets and convenience stores are the winning formats! This is driven by urban development and a rising middle class (1/4 of all Malaysian households)
Within the supermarket sector, the landscape is evolving quickly. Independent supermarkets (53% MS) are loosing to Retail Chains (Lotus’s, Giant, Aeon & Cold Storage)
Click on graph for best experience
Additionally, demand for premium supermarkets is on the rise, as higher-income consumers seek better quality food and imported ingredients
While several players compete in this segment—such as Jaya Grocer, Village Grocer, and Mercato—B.I.G. stands at the pinnacle of premium grocery shopping. Let’s explore what makes it so unique
Space, Style, and Light
B.I.G. combines an industrial-chic aesthetic with a spacious, well-planned layout for a stylish yet convenient shopping experience. High ceilings and wide walkways ensure seamless flow, while dimmed lighting with bright accents highlights product displays beautifully
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A Market Within
B.I.G. brings the charm of a traditional marketplace into a modern grocery setting with its dedicated fresh food counters. From premium meat cuts and the freshest seafood to artisan cheeses, baked goods, and even local delicacies, each booth is designed to offer top-quality products
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BIG Magic Touch
B.I.G. knows how to celebrate in style! For every major event, the store undergoes a stunning transformation with immersive decorations and tailored products that set the mood as soon as you step in
Chinese New Year
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Halloween
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Christmas
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The Tale of Two Checkouts
In Malaysia, grocery stores must maintain separate checkouts for halal and non-halal products. Ensuring that the two categories do not mix
Typically, non-halal sections are tucked away in a corner of the store, clearly separated from the rest. However, at B.I.G., this division is handled seamlessly, integrating the non-halal section into the store’s flow without disrupting the shopping experience
Here they called it Bottle Shop and S.Wine—a clever play on words, referencing both swine (pork) and wine, the two key product categories offered here. This dedicated areas provide shoppers with a refined selection of premium pork cuts, deli meats, and gourmet specialties, alongside an impressive wine collection
Taste the World
It is a truly global shopping experience with an impressive selection of imported products from around the world: Australian delicacies, European specialties, or American favorites! It is catering to every culinary craving and making it a go-to destination for food lovers seeking global tastes
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HUGE East Asia Fans
While B.I.G. imports a wide variety of products from all over the world, two countries receive an especially strong focus—Japan 🇯🇵 and Korea 🇰🇷! These sections are also enhanced with special decor that elevates the shopping experience
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This trend is so important in Southeast Asia that you can find the same at Tops Supermarkets in Thailand 🇹🇭
Bringing British Flair to Malaysia
B.I.G.’s partnership with Waitrose stands as a significant highlight in the store. With a dedicated and thoughtfully designed section, this collaboration underscores the importance of offering top-tier, premium products to Malaysian shoppers
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Premium Experience, Not Prices
While B.I.G. is a premium supermarket, its prices are competitive. Following our study they are only a very few percent higher than direct competitors
To give you an idea of the cost of living in KL and Malaysia: A basic grocery basket with 3 bananas, 10 eggs, bread toast, 1kg chicken, kitchen paper, 1.5l local mineral water, 1l milk, 1l Orange Juice, 200g butter, and 200g cherry tomatoes costs around ~18 EUR/USD (~RM 85)
This reflects Malaysia relatively affordable prices compared to Western countries
Another fun perspective: a Barilla Spaghetti pack (500g, 16 oz) comparison in different countries: USA 🇺🇸, Belgium 🇧🇪,Japan 🇯🇵, Australia 🇦🇺, and Malaysia 🇲🇾
FYI: Malaysian households have an average disposable income of US$25,631 and a median disposable income of US$20,465 (Source: World Bank)
Lifestyle Experience
In one section of the store, half of each end cap is filled with premium products, while the upper half is dedicated to captivating advertising
EAT.DRINK.SHOP
Its “Eat.Drink.Shop” concept is next level! Multiple counters invite you to indulge delicious food. For example, the Shucked counter offers oysters that you can shuck on the spot, with a delicious glass of wine
In other areas, you can sit and savor a meal while you shop. It’s an immersive experience where you can taste as you shop – or you just come to enjoy a delicious lunch
We hope you have learned a lot about Ben’s Independent Grocer —now it’s time to see it in action! 🎥✨ Experience a store in stunning 4K video below ⬇️ There’s so much more to discover on top
Store Address: The B.I.G. Experience At The Linc KL
360, Jln Tun Razak, Taman U Thant, 50400 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Click here for google map link
Thank you very much for your interest in this store
We really hope you enjoyed this post and video, and that it inspires you
Some more stores to inspire you:
🇦🇺 Aldi Australia: Funky Corner Stores Bringing Colours to Everyday Shopping
🇳🇿 PAK’nSAVE: The Efficient & Fun retailer That Revolutionizes New Zealand
🇭🇰 Park’nShop: Hong Kong’s #1 O+O Grocer Competing in a Two-Player Market
🇹🇼 PX Mart: Taiwan’s #1 Supermarket Battling Giants like Costco & Carrefour
🇨🇳 RT-Mart: The French-Born Giant largest grocery store in China
🇮🇩 Super Indo: The #1 Supermarket in The Emerald of the Equator
🇳🇿 Woolworths New Zealand: The Aussie Retailer That Took Over Both Islands
Have a wonderful time 😁
The WizArno Team
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