Three firms invest in local retail sector

Cashiers get ready to serve shoppers during the grand opening of the new Super Metro Colon branch. (CDN PHOTO/CHOY ROMANO)

CEBU’S retail industry continues to grow with the entrance or expansion of three local and foreign retail firms.

Within a week’s time, a local retail chain group opened its 39th store in the country, a foreign apparel brand and a local fashion eyewear brand has also set up shop here.

modern retailing

Yesterday, the Metro Gaisano group opened their fifth hypermarket in Cebu and their second store in Colon Street with a target to open nine more stores within the year in Visayas and Mindanao area.

Metro Retail Group president and chief operating officer Eduardo Ponce said they plan to open 100 stores nationwide by 2017 and hope to have a store in Davao by then.

“The retail industry in Cebu is very aggressive now especially with what you call ‘modern retailing’ where you promote more the experience while offering value and convenience to your shoppers,” said Ponce who added that the Cebu market is fast becoming like that of Manila which is very cosmopolitan.
Metro Gaisano has now 39 stores now in Visayas and Luzon.

Meanwhile, British brand opened their first shop in Cebu last Wednesday at Ayala Center Cebu.

The store is the fourth of over ten outlets that the group together with their local partner Store Specialist Inc., a subsidiary of the Rustans Group, has opened since the start of the year.
F&F managing director Marcus Chipchase said that they will be opening 10 more  outlets this year.

Last Saturday, Sunnies by Charlie, a fashion and apparel brand,  also opened its shop in SM City Cebu.

Cebu’s fast growing economy is attracting a lot of attention from many retailers in the country and abroad and they would like to be part of the growth and do more expansions here, said finance director Eric Dee Jr..

Sunnies is co-owned by Bea Soriano, Martine Cajucom, and celebrity Georgina Wilson.