Robinsons Retail opening more stores in ‘ber’ months

Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc., a multi-format retailer owned by the Gokongwei family, is accelerating its store openings in the "ber" months to capitalize on increased consumer spending. The company's president and CEO, Stanley Co, revealed to The STAR that RRHI anticipates a larger store network by the end of 2026 as it increases the number of new store openings before the year concludes.

RRHI typically prioritizes store openings in the latter part of the year. The company has a vast pipeline of store openings, focusing on banners with strong demand and limited market penetration, especially in essential categories like food and drugstores. RRHI, currently operating over 2,700 stores and 2,100 franchised TGP stores, is on track with its capital expenditure program of P5 billion to P7 billion for 2026.

The company is also investing in food and drugstores, which continue to benefit from essential demand, while remaining optimistic about the long-term potential of discretionary formats. RRHI remains open to merger and acquisition opportunities to enhance customer service, adapting to evolving consumer needs and market trends. The company's brands include Uncle John's, Shopwise, The Marketplace, Handyman, True Value, Daiso Japan, TGP, Southstar Drug, Rose Pharmacy, Toys "R" Us, Robinsons Supermarket, Easymart, and Department Store.

Recently, RRHI opened its first store in Panglao, Bohol, alongside a new branch of Rose Pharmacy, the largest drugstore chain in Visayas and Mindanao. This marks Rose Pharmacy's ninth store in Bohol, strengthening its presence in the province. In August, RRHI applied for a voluntary delisting from the Philippine Stock Exchange, with its shares being delisted from the official registry effective August 31.