Have you ever found yourself standing in front of an AEON Mall wondering whether you should have gone to AEON BiG instead? You’re not alone. Both carry that familiar AEON logo, both sell groceries, and both promise savings. So why do we have two AEONs, and which one actually gives you better value for your wallet?
Whether you’re a Malaysian who shops every week or someone trying to figure out where to buy your essentials, this article breaks down everything you need to know about AEON vs AEON BiG – from how they started to how their member rewards and AEON Points stack up today.
The AEON Story: From Malls to Hypermarkets
Let’s rewind a bit.
AEON isn’t just a Malaysian name. It’s part of Japan’s AEON Group (イオングループ株式会社), one of the largest retail conglomerates in Asia. AEON landed in Malaysia back in 1984, opening its first store in Kuala Lumpur. Fast forward to today, and AEON Malaysia operates over 35 AEON Stores (the department store + supermarket format you see inside AEON Malls), along with 28 AEON Malls, 64 AEON Wellness pharmacies, and other concepts like AEON MaxValu Prime and DAISO under its umbrella.
Then there’s AEON BiG, the bright orange hypermarket you’ll often find in suburban or standalone locations. AEON BiG came into the picture in 2012, when AEON acquired Carrefour Malaysia and rebranded all those massive stores as AEON BiG. It was a big move (no pun intended) that gave AEON a foothold in the hypermarket segment where Malaysians love to do their monthly grocery runs and stock up in bulk.
So essentially, AEON runs two retail engines in Malaysia:
- AEON = Department store + supermarket (lifestyle + fashion + groceries)
- AEON BiG = Hypermarket (groceries + bulk household + essentials)
Different purposes. Same family.
AEON vs AEON BiG: What’s The Difference?
Here’s the simplest way to look at it:
| Feature | AEON | AEON BiG |
|---|---|---|
| Core Concept | Department store + supermarket inside AEON Malls | Large hypermarket (formerly Carrefour) |
| Shopping Focus | Fashion, beauty, home goods, and daily groceries | Bulk groceries, household goods, and value packs |
| Trip Type | “Day-out” experience with restaurants and services | “Stock-up” shopping for the month |
| Ambience | Modern mall, often airier and more lifestyle-driven | Warehouse-like aisles, built for efficiency |
| Typical Basket Size | Small to medium (weekly top-up) | Large (monthly family run) |
| Locations | Inside AEON Malls and some standalone malls | Standalone hypermarkets and suburban areas |
| Loyalty Program | AEON Member / AEON Wallet / AEON Credit Cards | Same AEON Points ecosystem |
| Brand Colour | Purple (classic AEON) | Orange (AEON BiG) |
How AEON BiG Came To Be
When AEON Co. (M) Bhd bought Carrefour Malaysia in 2012, they didn’t just expand, but diversified. Carrefour was known for its massive “stock-up” stores. AEON saw that Malaysians loved bulk shopping, especially families doing big grocery hauls, stocking up on rice, detergent, diapers, and snacks all in one go.
To tap into that behavior, AEON rebranded those stores into AEON BiG (yes, with the “i” lowercase), and gave it a distinct orange identity.
The idea was simple:
- AEON stores would continue focusing on lifestyle, fashion, and daily needs.
- AEON BiG would specialize in value and volume, a.k.a. bigger packs, lower unit prices, frequent promotions.
Over time, the two started operating more cohesively. By 2020, AEON merged both under one management roof, meaning both sides could share systems, supply chains, and the same AEON Points loyalty program.
All You Need To Know About AEON Points
Here’s the good news: no matter you shop at AEON or AEON BiG, you’re earning the same AEON Points.
How It Works:
- 1 AEON Point = RM0.005 (200 points = RM1 value).
- Base earn rate: 1 point per RM1 spent (when you present your AEON Member card or use AEON Wallet).
- Member Plus Visa Card: earns 2 points per RM1 at participating AEON formats, including AEON BiG, AEON Stores, AEON Wellness, and AEON MaxValu.
- Redeeming: You can redeem points as cash rebates in-store or through AEON Wallet.
This unified ecosystem makes it incredibly convenient. You can buy groceries at AEON BiG, then redeem those points later at an AEON Department Store for fashion, beauty items, or vice versa.
If you’re a savvy shopper, this is where the fun begins: you can mix and match where you spend, but your rewards all pool into one place.
Let’s Talk About What Each Store Does Best
🛍️ AEON: Where Shopping Meets Lifestyle
Walking into an AEON Mall isn’t just about groceries, but a full day out. You’ve got:
- Department store floors with fashion, shoes, and home goods.
- AEON Wellness for skincare, makeup, and health supplements.
- AEON Supermarket for fresh produce, meat, seafood, and imported snacks.
- Plus, a mall environment filled with cafés, beauty salons, cinemas, and restaurants.
If you love window shopping, comparing skincare brands, or picking up gifts between errands, AEON is your comfort zone.
Who it’s for:
You enjoy browsing, you like a comfortable environment, and you don’t mind paying a little extra for better presentation, product variety, and mall convenience.
Insider tip:
Download the AEON Wallet app. You’ll often find App Member Exclusives, vouchers, and double-point promos tied to AEON Malls. You can also link your AEON Credit Card for faster checkout and auto-points.
🛒 AEON BiG: Your Monthly Grocery Warrior
AEON BiG is the opposite vibe known for practical, fast, and built for volume. Think of it as your monthly grocery HQ. The aisles are wide, the carts are massive, and the price tags scream “Buy more, save more!”
Here’s what you’ll find:
- Bulk household items (detergents, diapers, rice, cooking oil)
- Fresh produce and frozen goods
- Seasonal promotions (especially before festive periods)
- “Big” bundle deals on popular brands
- Ready-to-eat food corners for a quick bite while you shop
AEON BiG often competes head-to-head with Lotus’s (Tesco) and Giant, positioning itself as a hypermarket with Japanese roots, meaning it still keeps things organized and clean while staying price-conscious.
Who it’s for:
Families doing monthly hauls, anyone managing household budgets, or shoppers who love hunting for bulk deals and seasonal promos.
Insider tip:
AEON BiG tends to run weekend flash promotions and bundle packs (like 3-for-RM10). Combine that with AEON Points, and your effective savings get pretty solid.
The AEON Ecosystem: Same Group, More Perks
This is where AEON really shines compared to other Malaysian retailers. Instead of siloing their points between formats (like some competitors do), AEON unites its entire network of AEON Store, AEON Mall, AEON BiG, AEON Wellness, AEON MaxValu, and even AEON Bank under one AEON Points system.
You can collect points from any of the following:
- AEON Wallet app
- AEON Member Card
- AEON Member Plus Visa Card
- AEON Credit Card
- AEON Bank debit/credit accounts
And redeem them seamlessly at the cashier or online.
Example scenario:
You buy RM300 worth of groceries at AEON BiG → earn 600 points (if you use Member Plus Visa).
A week later, you visit AEON Mall Mid Valley and buy RM150 worth of skincare → pay partly with those points.
Everything syncs automatically through AEON Wallet.
For points hunters, this makes AEON one of the most universally rewarding ecosystems in Malaysia. You’re not tied to one format; you just keep earning wherever you go.
Prices & Product Mix: Which is Cheaper?
Here’s the honest truth:
AEON BiG is cheaper on groceries and everyday household items, while AEON carries slightly higher prices, it compensates with better ambience, curation, and shopping experience.
Here’s a simplified breakdown:
| Category | Better Value at AEON BiG | Better Value at AEON |
|---|---|---|
| Groceries (bulk) | ✅ Larger packs, lower unit prices | |
| Household & Cleaning | ✅ Frequent bundle promos | |
| Fresh Produce | ✅ Comparable, sometimes cheaper | |
| Fashion & Apparel | ✅ Exclusive AEON private labels | |
| Beauty & Wellness | ✅ AEON Wellness in-store access | |
| Electronics & Home | ✅ Wider selection & after-sales | |
| Mall Experience | ✅ Dining, events, entertainment |
So the rule of thumb is simple:
“If you’re buying in volume, go AEON BiG. If you’re shopping for variety and experience, go AEON.”
Why Both Formats Continue To Thrive
It’s actually clever that AEON runs both. Malaysians have two distinct shopping habits:
- Routine, fast grocery runs, usually weekly or monthly.
- Leisure shopping trips, where people browse, dine, and explore.
By having AEON and AEON BiG, the brand captures both shoppers and uses one shared loyalty system to keep you in the AEON ecosystem.
You can shop at AEON BiG for your big groceries, then wander into AEON Mall on weekends for fashion, beauty, and lifestyle splurges without losing out on points or perks.
For visitors to Malaysia: What’s Worth Visiting?
If you’re travelling here, AEON is actually a must-visit local retail experience.
- AEON Malls are family-friendly, air-conditioned hubs where locals spend weekends. You’ll find everything from affordable Japanese kitchenware to local designer brands.
- AEON BiG, on the other hand, is a fun peek into Malaysian everyday life where locals do their bulk buys and festive shopping.
If you’re staying long-term (say, as an expat), sign up for the AEON Member Plus Visa Card or download AEON Wallet. You’ll get consistent cashback in points, and you can even use it for bill payments and reloads.
What’s The New AEON Experience?
AEON Malaysia has been investing heavily in upgrading stores and digital experiences.
Some highlights you might spot this year:
- New AEON Store near MITEC Kuala Lumpur slated for launch by end-2025.
- More AI-assisted experiences in AEON Wellness for skin analysis.
- Expansion of AEON BiG online ordering and delivery options in major cities.
- Closer integration with AEON Bank, meaning points and cashback may become interchangeable soon.
It’s clear AEON is evolving into a retail-meets-fintech ecosystem, not just a mall operator. That means more cross-format rewards, more payment flexibility, and more reasons to stick with their network.
Final Verdict
At the end of the day, AEON and AEON BiG aren’t rivaling brands; they’re simply teammates complementing each other.
- AEON is your lifestyle mall: for fashion, wellness, beauty, and everyday supermarket runs in comfort.
- AEON BiG is your hypermarket hero: for monthly hauls, festive shopping, and unbeatable grocery deals.
The real magic lies in the shared AEON Points system, which means you never have to choose one over the other. Shop wherever it fits your lifestyle, your rewards still go into the same pocket.
So next time you’re deciding between purple and orange, think of it this way:
Purple (AEON) pampers you with experience.
Orange (AEON BiG) stretches your ringgit further.
Together, they make up one of Malaysia’s most rewarding shopping ecosystems, perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy both value and variety, no matter how big or small the shopping list.