Robinson's Group to open fourth supermarket in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Despite economic uncertainties, the Robinson’s Retail Group remains bullish in pursuing its expansion plans in the country, specifically in Cebu.

Before 2010 ends, Robinson’s Supermarket Corporation (RSC) will open its fourth supermarket in Cebu at the Aboitiz-developed commercial hub Pueblo Verde at the Mactan Export Zone (MEZ-2).

This development validates the company’s keen interest to expand in Cebu, owing to the dynamic retail market in the province, said RSC general manager Jody Gadia.

With a 20-year lease agreement with the AboitizLand Inc., Robinson’s will open up its first supermarket on Mactan Island by November or early December this year, Gadia said.

“We are still looking for more [strategic] sites in Cebu [where we can] open more Robinson’s Supermarket,” Gadia said in an interview during the ground breaking ceremony of the 2,600 square meters Robinson’s Supermarket to rise in Mactan soon.

The Robinson’s Supermarket in Mactan will be the 56th supermarket of the company across the country, and it will open up six more starting this year.

Usually, building this kind of facility will incur the company a capital expenditure of at least P62 million for a P24 thousand per square-meter calculation, Gadia said.

Gadia expressed confidence of the Cebu market in the supermarket retail, owing to Robinson’s strong equity for “fresh and wellness.”

“We are the best alternative to wet market,” he said adding that the company is making sure that its fruits and vegetable, meat and fish inventories are being replenished everyday to assure freshness.

In fact, in some of its supermarkets in Metro Manila, and also in Cebu-Banilad branch, already has an organic-section component made available to shoppers.

In 2011, Robinson’s Land Corporation (RLC) will start to develop the four-hectare property at the North Reclamation Area (NRA) near the old White Gold Department Store.

RLC is going to build a mixed-use development that will include the construction of a Robinson’s full-service mall, where the company is set to build one of Cebu’s largest supermarkets.

At present, there are three Robinson’s Supermarkets in Cebu-- the pioneering branch in Fuente Osmeña, the Banilad Town Center (BTC), and one in Talisay.

The Robinson’s Retail Group operates the supermarket arm, department store, the Topman, Toys Are Us, Sizen (Everything 85), and Howard’s Storage Store, among others.

In an interview with JG Summit Holdings Inc., president and chief operating officer (COO) Lance Gokongwei, he said that the company is looking at expanding its land bank in Cebu to prepare for more projects in the next few years.

RSC and RLC is part of the JG Summit Holdings Inc. conglomerate, which developed with its 18 malls, 23 residential subdivisions, 22 residential condominiums, six office buildings and three hotels.

In Cebu, RLC has made significant investments in real estate, with the establishment of BPO and commercial building called CyberGate, the multi-million-peso investment of the seaside condotel project called Amisa on Mactan Island, and the upcoming development at the North Reclamation Area next year.