RRHI ramps up store openings before 2025 ends

MANILA, Philippines — Gokongwei-owned multi-format retailer Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI) is ramping up its store openings before the year ends to take advantage of the country’s Christmas shopping rush.

RRHI president and CEO Stanley Co told The STAR that Uncle John’s would still see around 40 more new stores openings until the end of the year, while Robinsons Easymart would have around 25 more new branches until December.

He said that other brands under the RRHI portfolio would also see a lot of additional new store openings in the coming months.

“Actually, a lot of our store openings are all back ended. You might have seen that we had fewer openings in the beginning (of the year) but now, toward the end of the year a lot will be pursued, of course in time for the Christmas season because that’s the peak of when the shopping is,” Co said.

RRHI is aiming for 130 to 170 net store additions this year, with estimated capital expenditures of P5 billion to P7 billion.

Co said the company is on track with its target of achieving two to four percent same store sales growth and 20-to 30-basis-point gain on gross margins for 2025.

As one of the country’s largest multi-format retailers, RRHI has an expansive network of food stores, drugstores, department stores, do-it-yourself stores and specialty stores.

RRHI has 2,471 stores as of end-June, consisting of 763 food stores, 1,145 drugstores, 51 department stores, 228 DIY stores and 284 specialty stores.

The company also has 2,116 franchised stores of TGP.

The brands under RRHI’s portfolio include Uncle John’s, Shopwise, The Marketplace, Handyman, True Value, No Brand, Daisy Japan, TGP, Southstar Drug, Rose Pharmacy, Toys ”R” Us as well as Robinsons Supermarket, Easymart and Department Store, among others.

Last July, RRHI, through subsidiary Robinson’s Supermarket Corp., announced the signing of a share purchase agreement to acquire 100 percent of Premiumbikes Corp. from tycoon Lance Gokongwei for P146.4 million.

Premiumbikes is a motorcycle retailer in the Philippines, currently operating 214 stores nationwide.

The acquisition allows RRHI to enter the growing motorcycle market in the Philippines.