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Tag: manila

  • APRCE Manila to attract 2500 delegates

    APRCE Manila to attract 2500 delegates

    Retailers and businessmen looking to expand to Asia Pacific markets will find up to date developments in the world’s fastest-growing region at the Asia Pacific Retailers Convention and Exhibition (APRCE) in October.

    The biennial event will this time around be held in Manila at the SMX Convention Center in the Mall of Asia in Pasay City from October 28-30.

    The APRCE is the largest and longest running retail industry event in APAC and is expected to attract some 2500 foreign and local, retailers and executives.

    APRCE-2015-Lorenzo-Formoso-236x300The president of the Philippine Retailers Association, Lorenzo C Formoso, who is the COO of Duty Free Philippines, said the 17 member economies of the Federation of Asia Pacific Retailers Association (FAPRA) will present their respective country reports during the APRCE breakout sessions. These include reports from Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, New Zealand, India, Mongolia, Fiji, Turkey and the Philippines.

    The Philippines last hosted this biennial event – the biggest conference and expo of retailers in the region 20 years ago.

    “The member-associations will present and discuss the retail environment and situation in their respective countries, retail and investment opportunities as well as the laws governing foreign investments in their respective retail industries,” Formoso emphasised.

    APRCE-2015-Frederick-Go-191x300Frederick D Go, Manila APRCE 2015 chairman and president of Robinsons Recreation, said through the country reports, FAPRA member-associations will get the chance to present the strengths and opportunities their markets offer that attract international retailers to consider them in their expansion plans.

    “If you are looking to expand and need a good market intelligence about Asia Pacific and the 17 member- economies, the APRCE is a must-attend event for you this year. This is like a one-stop shop for all the market intelligence that you’ll need for your expansion in Asia-Pacific markets,” Go stressed.

    On Day two of APRCE, the retail associations of Australia, Vietnam, China, India, Fiji, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia and South Korea will present their country reports during breakout sessions, to be followed on Day three by Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Turkey.

    Aside from the country reports, over 30 experts will speak and share their insights on the trends and updates on the global retail and marketing industries during the event.

    Formoso said the three-day event aims to explore and discover new approaches to issues facing the region’s retailers and highlight innovative solutions that can help them differentiate themselves from competitors, and to deliver greater value to consumers.

    Organised by the Federation of Asia Pacific Retailers Association (FAPRA), the Manila APRCE 2015 is co-presented by the Tourism Promotions Board, The SM Store, Wyeth Nutrition. With Bench, Flight 001, and Penshoppe as platinum sponsors, Robinsons Malls and Ayala Malls,

    PLDT Alpha, Megaworld, Unilab, Mercury Drug as gold sponsors; Duty Free Philippines, HP, Wilcon Depot, Kojie-san,Celine, MET Tathione as silver sponsors and Araneta Center as bronze sponsor.

     

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  • Costa Coffee Manila opens

    Costa Coffee Manila opens

    The first of five Costa Coffee Manila cafes has opened its doors, marking the British-headquartered coffee chain’s Philippines debut.

    Costa, the world’s second largest dedicated coffee chain behind Starbucks, has opened in Eastwood City Mall in Quezon City, metropolitan Manila.

    Four more cafes are planned by the year’s end in Bonifacio Global City, Robinsons Ermita, Tera Towers and Robinsons Antipolo.

    The Eastwood City Mall cafe is spread over two floors and features distressed timber fittings, and a sofa upholstered with the Union Jack to reflect the brand’s heritage.

    For its Philippines entry, Costa has partnered with Robinsons Retail Holdings, which owns the Robinsons Department Store, supermarket, Handyman, True Value, Toys ‘R’ Us, and Daiso retail banners in the Philippines.

    Costa Coffee has over 3000 stores worldwide, including 1800 in the UK and 400 in the Middle East.

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  • ‘Sin tax’ cuts cigarette smoking in Philippines

    ‘Sin tax’ cuts cigarette smoking in Philippines

    A “sin tax” on cigarettes has sharply cut smoking in the Philippines while also boosting government revenues, the internal revenue chief claimed on Monday.

    The number of cigarette packs put on store shelves by retailers fell by nearly a third between 2012 and 2014, said revenue chief Kim Henares.

    The government raised excise taxes on tobacco and liquor products in 2012 to raise revenues and discourage smoking, which kills nearly 88,000 Filipinos each year according to World Health Organisation data.

    “We exceeded the targets,” Henares told AFP.

    The government agency’s data showed 5.764 million packs were withdrawn from storage and placed on retail shelves in 2012, compared to 4.869 billion packs in 2013.

    By 2014 the figure was down to 3.917 billion packs, said Henares.

    Taxes are levied on the number of packs placed on store shelves rather than the number subsequently sold.

    Proceeds from the taxes on cigarettes rose to P74.328 billion ($1.69 billion) last year from 32.16 billion pesos in 2012, the agency said.

    Under the law, a portion of the revenues from sin taxes are allotted to finance government health programes including anti-smoking campaigns.

    A Department of Health survey in 2009 found that more than 28 per cent of the country’s adult population were smokers.

    The government first asked parliament to raise taxes on “sin” products as early as 1997, but a strong lobby by tobacco manufacturers delayed this for years.

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  • Metro Gaisano develops waterfront township in Cebu

    Metro Gaisano develops waterfront township in Cebu

    Metro Gaisano’s real estate company Taft Properties and Asia’s premier real estate developer and investment group Hongkong Land partnered to develop the first waterfront township in Mandaue City, Cebu.

    Although the real estate developer did not say when it will be finished and how much it is earmarked for the project, Metro Gaisano said the waterfront township will occupy a 20-hectare prime property right along the Mactan Channel.

    “This partnership will help jumpstart Mandaue City’s transformation into a dynamic lifestyle hub,” Jack Gaisano, Chairman of Taft Properties, said in a statement.

    “With Taft Properties’ local expertise and Hongkong Land’s international experience, this alliance will bring in new standards in design and construction while being in keeping with the local culture and tastes.” Gaisano added.

    A portion of the township will be allotted for open spaces such as a central linear park, al-fresco establishments and a waterfront promenade.

    Hongkong Land and Taft Properties Executives (L to R) Finn R. Carew, Alan R. Cruz, Tan Wee Hsien, Jack S. Gaisano and Christopher G. Narciso. Photo from Metro Gaisano

    “We are committed to creating an environmentally and economically sustainable community. The development will create jobs, and provide a significant stimulus to Cebu’s economy,” Tan Wee Hsien, Hongkong Land head of Residential Property for South Asia, said

    Hongkong Land owns and manages almost 800,000 square meters of prime office and luxury retail property in key Asian cities, principally in Hong Kong and Singapore.

    Hongkong Land is also developing a number of largely residential projects, in cities across Greater China and Southeast Asia. Hongkong Land Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda and has a standard listing on the London Stock Exchange as its primary listing, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore.

    Metro Gaisano’s retail arm Metro Retail has a network of 44 stores comprised of department stores, hypermarkets and supermarkets. Half of its store network is in Cebu.

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  • Buffalo Wild Wings critical about Asia

    Buffalo Wild Wings critical about Asia

    US informal eating chain Buffalo Wild Wings is within the means of securing grasp franchisees in at the very least six extra Asian nations as its first foray into the area pays off.

    In January BWW opened its first restaurant within the continent, in Manila, in partnership with Philippines grasp franchisee The Bistro Group. That restaurant, in Estancia Mall at Capitol Commons in Pasig Metropolis, proved so profitable inside its first few months two extra websites are beneath improvement already because the rollout plan is accelerated. These eating places will open in Glorietta and Uptown Mall.

    Buffalo Wild Wings CEO, Sally Smith informed Inside Retail Asia in an interview the corporate will probably be signing a grasp franchise settlement in Vietnam in a fortnight with the primary BWW outlet scheduled to open there someday subsequent yr.

    A separate franchise settlement has been concluded for a area in India with the primary restaurant there more likely to be buying and selling inside as little as six months.

    Smith was in Hong Kong this week for talks with suppliers and potential companions and advised Inside Retail Asia the corporate is already speaking with potential companions in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. She has additionally been taking a primary hand take a look at the Hong Kong eating scene with a view to contemplating enlargement there, too.

    However she gained’t be dashing into any of those markets.

    “One of many issues that’s necessary to us is discovering the fitting associate, so we’re going to take our time. We need to ensure that our associate understands our enterprise, that they perceive our model and that they share the identical values as we do.

    “Once we choose a companion, they go to us within the US, they practice within the US they usually go to a lot of shops in order that they see how we function – that’s all earlier than they turn out to be a associate.

    “We’re in search of nice franchise companions,” stated Smith. Not simply anybody with a cheque guide.

    Native challenges

    Smith says when getting into a brand new market, BWW understands the necessity to tailor its menu and pricing factors accordingly. Concentrating on locals relatively than expats or vacationers, Smith says the model is lifelike and trusts its franchise companion to work with it on each fronts.

    In Manila, probably the closest Asian market when it comes to dietary habits to North America, BWW has added rice to its menu and it’s contemplating a steak sandwich to satisfy native demand.

    “We definitely work to think about native flavours locals are in search of. However others nonetheless need that genuine Buffalo Wild Wings expertise,” Smith stated.

    In Vietnam, the place the ‘center class’ by definition is on an revenue as little as US$500 a month, BWW is about for an extended, affected person progress cycle.

    “I used to be in Vietnam final yr and I used to be very excited. The overall inhabitants is rising and there’s some nice information on the financial entrance. However we’ll take our time constructing out Vietnam and we’ll attempt to not overbuild.”

    Smith says the franchise companion there’s already evaluating actual property choices.

    A key think about BWW’s portability into new markets is that hen is an accepted a part of the weight-reduction plan in most elements of the world – and sport captures the eye too.

    A key element of the BWW idea is stay sport, with giant screens within the eating places encouraging dwell time. Within the US and the Philippines, American Soccer, basketball and ice hockey are staples on the sports activities menu; in Southeast Asia it is going to be English Premier League. Smith stated in the course of the Superbowl remaining early this yr the Manila restaurant opened early and queues shaped of locals eager to eat and benefit from the match.

    The corporate can also be testing know-how options that may allow clients in its eating places to take part in on-line social gaming, enjoying towards clients of different eating places in the identical nation.

    Buffalo Wild Wings already boasts 1094 eating places serving 21 signature flavors of Buffalo, New York-style hen wings. Its foray into the Philippines was its first step outdoors the Americas.

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  • West Elm Philippines makes debut

    West Elm Philippines makes debut

    West Elm Philippines, the furniture chain of Williams Sonoma, has opened its first store in Manila.

    The store, located in the new Estancia Mall at Capitol Commons, Shaw Boulevard, Pasig City. It will compete with Crate & Barrel, which made its Philippines debut last year, and complement another Williams Sonoma brand Pottery Barn.

    While skewed towards complete furniture solutions, West Elm also stocks a comprehensive range of homewares. It positions itself as creating “unique and affordable designs for modern living”.

    One standout feature of West Elm Philippines is that it works with local Filipino producers to stock their products, not just imported goods.

    Among locals to feature in the store are Filipino Capiz Artisans, a co-op of family owned businesses preserving traditional capiz handcrafts, including Capiz Chandelier and Pendant lighting; Filipino Weavers, known for their skilled weaving, braiding, twisting and knits using innovative techniques passed down through generations to create braided storage containers; and Santo Tomas Potters, Pampanga-based creators of hand-thrown, hand-cast and hand-painted ceramics.

    Jim Brett, president of West Elm, said he believes there is “a tremendous appetite for well-designed, finely crafted home goods and furnishings” in the Philippines.

    The 7000 sqft store has opened showcasing the brand’s summer collection which includes furniture, bedding, bathroom accessories, rugs, window textiles and hardware, lighting, decorative accessories, dining, kitchen products, and gifts. It also offers services at Design Lab, where customers can partner with design specialists for complimentary consultations and space planning sessions.

    West Elm currently has 71 retail stores in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK. The Philippines is its first Asia market, and it has an unaffiliated franchisee operating stores in the Middle East.

  • Applebee ’s Philippines set for debut

    Applebee ’s Philippines set for debut

    International Restaurant Ideas has secured the rights to US restaurant chain Applebee’s Grill and Bar.

    The primary three Applebee’s Philippines eating places will open from subsequent month, the primary in Bonifacio International Metropolis in Manila. GRC president and CEO Archie C. Rodriguez stated the second restaurant will open in Eastwood and the third location isn’t but determined.

    Applebee’s would be the second US restaurant model operated by GRC, becoming a member of Ihop (Worldwide Home of Pancakes) which it acquired the rights to in 2013. Each manufacturers are owned by DineEquity of California.

    There are presently seven Ihop eating places in Philippines, with an eighth deliberate for Baguio this yr and extra in Cebu and Davao.

    Applebee’s specialises in steaks, burgers, ribs and salads and Rodriguez is concentrating on a verify of between 300 pesos and 400 pesos per diner (US$6.50 – $9).

    Daniel del Olmo, president of DineEquity’s worldwide division, stated his firm selected the Philippines as its subsequent worldwide market, drawn by the continued GDP progress and its perception the market is sustainable long-term.

    Rodriguez, in the meantime, hopes to open as many as 70 Ihop and Applebee’s shops inside seven years.

  • Kase targets journey retail sector

    Kase targets journey retail sector

    Cell phone case idea Kase is about to broaden its journey retail presence after the early success of its first airport retailer within the Philippines.

    Kase opened a retailer in Manila’s Ninoy Aquino Worldwide Airport in February in partnership with Regent Distributors. It contains a broad vary of instances for smartphones and tablets – a excessive margin retail enterprise which has already confirmed widespread in non-travel places in 150 markets together with Singapore, Hong Kong, India, the US, Germany and France.

    The corporate says its first airport retailer, simply 33sqm, is attaining gross sales at ranges “completely past all expectations”.

    A key level of distinction making Kase so common is the customisation out there in-store. Buyers can take their telephones in, and utilizing an iPad select from hundreds of various designs and modify them to go well with their private preferences earlier than having the case printed inside eight minutes in-store. They will even present their very own designs – uploadable by way of the shop’s WiFi.

    Kase believes the idea is right for journey retail, requiring area as small as 15 sqm in a shop-in-shop, 22 sqm for a pop up store or between 30 sqm and 60 sqm for a standalone boutique.

    Says Kase cofounder Steve Rosenblum: “The Kase gives travel-retail an incredible alternative to capitalise on a market in fixed enlargement. It’s estimated that in 2016 1 billion smartphones and 400 million tablets can be bought – double the variety of 2012. As well as, the marketplace for equipment is rising equally quickly, up 80 per cent in 2012 and anticipated to point out 120 per cent progress subsequent yr, representing an enormous US$50 billion. More and more, covers for these things are being thought-about a style accent in their very own proper.”

    Rosenblum says Kase has signed up a grasp franchisee in Indonesia and others in South Africa, Center East and Europe.

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  • UK’s John Lewis opens today in Makati

    UK’s John Lewis opens today in Makati

    John Lewis, a chain of quality department stores operating through out Great Britain, will open its first shop-in-shop in the Philippines at SM Makati today. The chain is part of the John Lewis Partnership, and is known for its slogan “Never Knowingly Undersold.”

    John Lewis Partnership is UK’s largest example of worker co-ownership where all 30,000 staff are Partners in the business. On the other hand, Never Knowingly Undersold is the company’s unique policy to its customers that the price of any item it sells will always be as low as the lowest price in the neighborhood. It has been in use since 1925.

    A wide range of own-brand home products including bed, bath, tableware, and home accessories, such as candles and photo frames, will be on offer in a dedicated John Lewis Department at SM Home in SM Makati’s Fifth Level.

    The shop-in-shop here in the Philippines will have a wide range of own-brand home products like tableware and kitchen furniture

    This will be the first of the 11 John Lewis shop-in-shops in SM Retail locations across the Philippines—SM Makati, SM Aura Premier, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA, SM Southmall in the Metro area, and SM Cebu and SM Lanang in the provincial areas; as well as three Our Home stores. The sites will be between 300 square feet and 1,000 square feet and will have a dedicated staff.

    “SM Retail is a perfect partner to help bring the John Lewis brand to a new Asian customer base,” declares Andy Street, managing director at John Lewis.

    Meanwhile, British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad says in a message,“I would like to congratulate SM for successfully bringing John Lewis to the Philippines,” says. In the UK, John Lewis is known as a top retailer and has a reputation for offering excellent value to customers for many years. We are delighted to have another iconic brand that will bring the experience of British quality, creativity, and lifestyle to the Filipino home.”

    The first John Lewis store opened in 1864 in Oxford Street, London. Today, it operates 43 John Lewis stores across the UK and runs a shopping website at johnlewis.com.

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  • Foreign brands drive Manila malls boom

    Foreign brands drive Manila malls boom

    Manila’s thriving retail sector will lead boost returns for shopping centre developers, says new research from real estate specialist CBRE.

    “With several new malls operational this quarter, supply of retail space has boosted,” concludes CBRE’s The Philippine Real Estate Industry Update and 2015 Outlook.

    “Retail sales remained solid, demonstrating upticks in consumer spending as evidenced by the low inflation rate and an encouraging outlook for real estate and tourism sectors.”

    Nationwide, the Philippines’ retail industry growth is being fuelled by both local and international brands expanding their footprints.

    “The quarter saw the entry and expansion of new and existing global brands in different retail core sites. These international brands have recognised the potential of the Philippine retail market, signified by the country’s strong economic growth.”

    Sweden’s H&M is a prime example: after a successful debut in Manila, the company has aggressively expanded its operations throughout Metro Manila with local major shopping mall operators. The first H&M outlet in Megamall occupies 3000 sqm over three floors and is now considered one of the largest retail stores in the Philippines.

    Estancia Mall in Capitol Commons, which houses several retail outlets and restaurants, opened in the fourth quarter in time for the holiday rush. The building, which has a gross floor area of over 30,000 sqm meters, also incorporates office space.

    Other Manila malls opening during the quarter were Robinson’s Place Las Piñas and City of Dreams Manila.

    “With the holiday season at hand, the retail sector remained active with more international retailers showing interest in entering the domestic market. Consumer sentiment was sustained as major drivers such as the BPO sector and overseas remittances show no signs of slowing down,” said CBRE.

    Diversifying into the retail segment, major developers are taking advantage of the ‘Retail- tainment’ concept wherein office and residential projects are including retail use.

    “The purpose of this is to provide the overall retail experience to Filipino shoppers, giving them the power of choice at their own convenience. This factor is also seen to attract foreign retail players to dive into the Philippine market scene.”

    These factors, says CBRE, will drive “upbeat” demand for, and supply of, retail space in Manila malls in the near future.

    “Overall, the Metro Manila retail market is seen to remain strong and stable for the remainder of the year empowered by the expanding Business Process Outsourcing industry, Overseas Foreign Worker remittances, growing tourism and a growing middle-income market.”

  • Puregold acquires 9 supermarts north of Metro Manila

    Puregold acquires 9 supermarts north of Metro Manila

    Puregold Price Club Inc. of retail tycoon Lucio Co is expanding its presence in Nueva Ecija and other provinces north of Metro Manila as it gobbles up more supermarkets and commercial properties owned by Nueva Ecija-based retailer NE Inc. Puregold told the local bourse on Wednesday that it acquired nine supermarkets located in Cabanatuan and San Jose, Nueva Ecija; Baliwag, Bulacan; Baler, Aurora and Santiago, Isabela.

  • PH opens mammoth casino-resort, seeking high-rollers

    PH opens mammoth casino-resort, seeking high-rollers

    The new casino is an imposing structure on Manila Bay with 6 gleaming golden towers surrounding a giant egg-shaped dome, and industry and government leaders hope it will attract cashed-up tourists from other parts of Asia

    Tourist and casino players arrive at the grand opening of the City of Dreams mega-casino in Manila on February 2, 2015. Photo by Jay Directo/AFP

    Manila aims to rival Macau and Las Vegas in terms of gaming revenues, and the “City of Dreams” is the latest in a string of casinos that have opened in recent years.

    The new casino is an imposing structure on Manila Bay with 6 gleaming golden towers surrounding a giant egg-shaped dome, and industry and government leaders hope it will attract cashed-up tourists from other parts of Asia.

    The casino is a joint venture between the country’s richest man Henry Sy, Australian billionaire James Packer and Lawrence Ho, son of Macau casinomogul Stanley Ho.

    “The goal is to find the best (sites) in Asia … The Philippines is one of the fastest growing economies anywhere in the world. We’ve seen the market really pick up,” Ho told reporters.

    Australian billionaire James Packer (right) and Melco crown co-chairman and with his co-chairman Lawrence Ho (center) during a press conference on the opening of the City of Dreams mega-casino in Manila on February 2, 2015. Photo by Ted Aljibe/AFP

    Ho also acknowledged the huge cost of building the resort. The Philippine government requires a minimum $1 billion investment for new casinos built in the area.

    Packer said jokingly that the resort was inspired by Hollywood movies “Casino” and “Oceans Eleven,” and Robert de Niro, Martin Scorsese, and Leonardo DiCaprio have appeared on giant billboards and TV commercials to promote the casino.

    The 6.2-hectare complex is the second of 4 mega resorts to open on reclaimed portions of the bay, just a few hundred meters from the city’s slum communities.

    The City of Dreams’ golden dome, called the “Fortune Egg,” houses two exclusive nightclubs, including Pangaea, where Picasso copies hang beside pictures of safari animals on walls covered in fake snakeskin.

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