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Tag: Philippines

  • Aeropostale to enter India, Indonesia

    Aeropostale to enter India, Indonesia

    US mall-based youth fashion discounter Aeropostale has announced new partnerships in India and Indonesia.

    The company will open stores in India through a licensing agreement with Arvind Lifestyle Brands Limited, and in Indonesia through a licensing agreement with PT Mitra Adiperkasa TBK (MAP).

    Julian R. Geiger, Aeropostale CEO, said India and Indonesia are two of the most populated countries in the world and his company sees significant opportunities by taking the Aeropostale brand to them both.

    “Following the successful launch of our brand in the Philippines and Singapore, we are excited to capitalise on the strong growth prospects in both India and Indonesia. We are totally comfortable partnering with two of the largest and strongest retailers in their respectful regions, Arvind Lifestyle Brands Limited and MAP.”

    Aeropostale’s expansion plans in India include the opening of 50 standalone stores, 150 concessions and eCommerce operations across the country over the five years, from March 2016.

    The company expects to open 10 to 12 standalone stores in Indonesia over the next five years, with its first store opening in Jakarta in Fall 2016.

    Continued Geiger: “We anticipate ending the year with over 300 locations across 17 countries. Our aggressive international growth underscores the strength and recognition of the Aeropostale brand, and we look forward to announcing new global licensing partnerships throughout the year.”

    Aeropostale  principally targets males and females aged 14 to 17 and four to 12 year-olds through its P.S. from Aeropostale stores and website.

    Arvind Lifestyle Brands has licensing relationships with many international brands including Gap, TCP, Gant, Nautica, Arrow, Izod, US Polo Association, Elle, Ed Hardy, Hanes, Cherokee and Geoffrey Beene.

    PT Mitra Adiperkasa TBK  is a leading lifestyle retailer in Indonesia with over 1800 retail stores and a diversified portfolio that includes Starbucks, Zara, Marks & Spencer, Sogo, Seibu, Debenhams, Oshkosh B’ Gosh and Reebok.

  • 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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  • Minions to be back in McDonalds Happy Meals

    Minions to be back in McDonalds Happy Meals

    Those tiny, frantic yellow creatures, the Minions, conquered the world with a smile, a wave, and their trademark unintelligible chatter as supporting characters in the first Despicable Me (2010).

    When they returned in 2013 for Despicable Me 2, they won over more fans and then invaded McDonalds Happy Meals with a vengeance in a merchandising move that had fans scrambling to collect the pocket-sized figures.

    And now that they’re starring in their own movie out this July, we can confirm that the Minions will be back in McDonalds Happy Meals very soon.

    We’ve gotten a sneak peek at our frantic friends; the set of 10 comes in different characters, each with its own unique features. And since the film, a prequel of sorts, chronicles their lives B.G. (before Gru, of Despicable Me fame), the toys reflect Minions in their various states throughout pop culture history, having served masters like the T-Rex, Napoleon, and Dracula.

    Here are all 10 Minions toys below:

    Minion Vampire

    Pushing the little knob at the back makes the closed-mouth Minion reveal his fangs, drawing up his arms to scare you away.

    Guard Minion

    We predict this will be one of the most popular Minion toys – winding him up, you’ll be able to watch him a few steps, still holding his banana.

    Marching Minion Soldier

    Not to be confused with the Guard Minion. Pushing down on top of this gentleman’s head will cause him to move his arms and eyes, looking for an adversary.

    Martial Arts Minion

    This Minion comes with a spinning bottom half – which turns really fast with one flick.

    Egyptian Hula Minion

    This Minion comes with a detachable hula hoop. Attaching it to his side and pressing a button on top of its head will make the hoop move faster around him.

    Minion Caveman

    Movable arms, with a perpetual alarmed expression, holding – what else – a Minion delicacy, the banana.

    They used to be better known as a collective wall of yellow capsule-like creatures, but as they grew in popularity, audiences got to know Minions’ different looks (one eye, or two? Tall, or stout?) and personalities.

    The new movie focuses on Stuart, Kevin, and Bob, who set out and ultimately land at a villain convention in search of a new master to serve after the Minions unwittingly kill off their previous masters. Here are the designs featuring Stuart (one-eyed, rather mischevious), Kevin (tall, responsible and determined), and Bob (tiny, stout, and the baby of the family).

    Groovy Stuart

    Watch him dance by shuffling his feet from side to side. We all know there’s nothing Minions love more than an impromptu dance party, and Groovy Stuart is no exception.

    Guitar-strumming Stuart

    Perhaps to accompany Groovy Stuart, this guitar-strumming version actually sings when you push the guitar just a little bit downwards.

    Lava-shooting Kevin

    When you hit a switch, Kevin’s lava gun glows bright red. The best part – his self-assured little grin.

    Chatting Bob

    We may not be sure exactly what the Minions are saying in their secret language, but this chatty Bob, which talks at the push of a button, is a bona fide cutie.

    How to get them early

    For those who would like to get all 10 in one go, the preorder option has been made available.

    Here’s how, directly from the press release provided by McDonalds Philippines:

    • Visit any McDonald’s store from June 15-20.
    • Pre-order the complete Minions Happy Meal set in the front counter of a McDonald’s store.
    • For P949, each pre-ordered Minions Happy Meal set includes a Claim Stub Set for all 10 Minions Happy Meal toys and 10 Happy Meal food stubs, which may be used upon purchase or until August 19.
    • The complete Minions Happy Meal set may be redeemed at any McDonald’s store starting June 25 – before the Minions toys are available individually in store.
  • Yelp Philippines makes debut

    Yelp Philippines makes debut

    Yelp, the company that connects consumers with local businesses, has launched Yelp Philippines.

    From this week, people across the Philippines are able to read reviews about local businesses and create accounts on Yelp.com.ph to share their opinions. Yelp’s free iPhone and Android apps will be available as well as its free suite of business owner tools: Yelp for Business Owners.

    The Philippines is Yelp’s 32nd international market and Tagalog, the local language marks the 18th language on the platform.

    The nation is the fourth Asian market for Yelp following Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan, which itentered in March this year.

    With a population of 100 million people, the Philippines is the sixth largest English-speaking nation in the world, with English widely spoken as a second language. It is also culturally diverse and internet savvy, with Filipinos sending more than 1 billion text messages per day.

    Filipinos are also passionate about food a core category in the social media platform’s consumer recommendation system.

    “Filipinos are so well-connected online and offline that we know they will love using Yelp to find and connect with great local businesses,” says Miriam Warren, Yelp VP of new markets.

    “We will be working hard to make sure Yelp is the most useful and relevant local resource for every Pinoy.”

    Yelp will kick off its community building efforts in Manila – one of the densest cities in the world – and soon bring together Yelpers online and offline to experience the best of Manila. Yelp will also be available across the entire country, so everyone, everywhere in the Philippines with access to the Internet on a desktop computer or a smartphone, now has the ability to share their opinions on what is great (and not-so great) about local businesses in the Philippines.

    Yelp was founded in San Francisco in July 2004. Since then, Yelp communities have taken root in major metropolitan areas across 32 international markets. Yelp had a monthly average of approximately 142 million unique visitors in the first quarter of 2015. By the end of the same quarter, Yelpers had written approximately 77 million rich, local reviews, making Yelp the leading local guide for real word-of-mouth on everything from boutiques and mechanics to restaurants and dentists. Approximately 79 million unique visitors visited Yelp via their mobile device on a monthly average basis during the first quarter of 2015.

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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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  • SSI to launch Joe Recent Philippines

    SSI to launch Joe Recent Philippines

    SSI subsidiary Shops Specialists has obtained the franchise for the Joe Recent style model within the Philippines.

    SSI will open a sequence of Joe Recent Philippines shops underneath licence from Loblaw, the Canadian retail big which owns the model.

    The primary shops will open subsequent yr, ranging attire, equipment, footwear and wonder merchandise for ladies, males and youngsters.

    “Joe Recent additional strengthens our lineup of worth manufacturers, permitting us to faucet and delight a fair broader base of Philippine shoppers,” SSI President Anthony T. Huang stated in a press release.

    With 350 shops in Canada, Joe Recent began increasing outdoors North America in 2014, opening shops with companions in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and the UAE.

    “We’re happy to introduce Joe Recent to the increasing Philippines retail panorama,” Joe Recent president Mario Grauso stated.

    SSI, mum or dad of the Rustan Group, additionally owns the FamilyMart and Wellworth retail operations within the Philippines.

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  • More global firms eye Philippines as training hub

    More global firms eye Philippines as training hub

    The Philippines has the potential to become a preferred training hub by multinational companies due to its English-speaking and skilled workforce, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

    Trade Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo Jr. told reporters more companies are looking at the Philippines as the location for their training facilities because Filipinos can speak English well and can easily be trained.

    “The Philippines is beginning to be looked at as a training hub or training center,” he said.

    Among the companies interested in making the Philippines its training hub is aircraft manufacturer Airbus.

    Manalo and Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo met with representatives from Airbus during their visit to France earlier this month.

    Aside from Airbus, other companies engaged in aerospace as well as other sectors such as transportation and construction are also interested in setting up training facilities in the Philippines.

    At present, some firms engaged in the retail business have started undertaking training programs in the Philippines such as Japan’s Uniqlo and Sweden’s H&M.

    Uniqlo is bringing Japanese students in their Philippine outlets in order to train in English as a second language.

    H&M is likewise undertaking training activities in their retail outlets in the country.

    Given the interest by firms in making the Philippines the location of their training activities, Manalo said the DTI can include such in the government’s efforts to attract firms to locate in the country.

    “It (training) is turning out to be an opportunity that we can promote to firms,” he said.

    The Philippines’ young, English-speaking and skilled talent pool has often been cited as one of the reasons global companies to set up operations in the country.

  • 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.

  • SSI brings Canadian fashion retailer Joe Fresh to PH

    SSI brings Canadian fashion retailer Joe Fresh to PH

    Specialty retailer SSI Group has entered into a deal to bring to the Philippines Joe Fresh, one of Canada’s leading fashion retailers.

    In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, SSI said it had entered into a franchise partnership with Loblaw Companies Ltd. and its affiliates, the owners of Joe Fresh, to open free- standing Joe Fresh stores in the local market starting first half of 2016.

    “We are very excited for the addition of Joe Fresh to our portfolio of brands. Joe Fresh further strengthens our lineup of value brands, allowing us to tap and delight an even broader base of Philippine consumers,” SSI president Anthony Huang said in a press statement.

    “We are pleased to introduce Joe Fresh to the expanding Philippines retail landscape. There is no better partner than SSI Group, Inc. to deliver our message of essential, modern style and exceptional value to this dynamic market. Building on SSI Group’s unparalleled expertise in the region, we look forward to creating an exciting and accessible new fashion choice for consumers in the Philippines,” said Mario Grauso, President of Joe Fresh.

    Founded in 2006, Joe Fresh offers what have been described as “well-designed” and “well-priced” collections for women, men and children. Assortments include apparel, accessories, footwear and cosmetics. The brand is sold in over 350 locations in Canada, including 12 freestanding stores and using online platform JoeFresh.com. In the United States, Joe Fresh is available in four freestanding stores and online.

    Since 2014, Joe Fresh has entered new overseas markets like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates with local partners.

    For its part, the Tantoco family-led SSI represents 112 brands in more than 740 stores across the Philippines. In partnership with Ayala Land, Inc. and FamilyMart Japan, SSI also operates the FamilyMart chain of convenience stores and, together with Ayala Land, the Wellworth department store chain.

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  • AirAsia plans IPO for Indonesia and Philippines units

    AirAsia plans IPO for Indonesia and Philippines units

    AirAsia Bhd announced on Wednesday a corporate exercise which includes potential new equity for Indonesia AirAsia (IAA) and Philippines AirAsia (PAA) via a convertible bond issuance.

    AirAsia pointed out the company has a solid footing, strong balance sheet, rich in assets and good business outlook, as it unveiled new equity plans for IAA and PAA as it sought to reduce AirAsia’s inter-company loans.

    The first step was to raising share capital to about US$100mil each for IAA and PAA from the present level of US$13.81mil and US$13.28mil respectively.

    “The management is now in the final stages of discussions with the local partners to raise share capital to around US$100mil for IAA and PAA from the present level of US$13.81mil and US$13.28mil respectively.

    “Part of the cash raised will be used to pay down AirAsia Bhd’s interco,” it said.

    Under the second step under the pre-IPO, it said plans were to raise a minimum of US$100mil from new investor(s).

    AirAsia said it is finalising the structure of the Pre-IPO exercise which is targeted to take place in the near term.

    “Through this exercise, there will be new investor(s) that will come in for both IAA and PAA. The new investor(s) will inject at least US$100mil for each associate by subscribing to convertible bonds (CB) issued by IAA and PAA respectively.

    “The CB will have a low coupon with a two-year maturity period. The CB can be converted at a rate to be determined, tentatively discounted from the valuation of the companies in 2017. As investor(s) exercise the CB in 2017, AAB will match by capitalising our debt to ensure our shareholding remains at 49% in IAA and 40% in PAA.

    “Part of the cash raised in the CB subscription will be used to pay down AAB’s interco, while the remainder will be kept in the business for working capital.

    Under the third step, the IPO will have a valuation of about US$700mil for IAA and US$600mil for PAA

    The target to IPO both associates will be in 2017, with valuation of approximately US$700mil for IAA and US$600mil for PAA.

    “The company targets to float 20% of the shares raising minimum of US$150mil. At IPO all shareholders will be diluted proportionately. Part of the IPO proceeds will be used to pay down AAB’s interco,” it said.

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  • Uniqlo, other Japanese firms eye expansion in PH

    Uniqlo, other Japanese firms eye expansion in PH

    Prominent Japanese companies already operating in the Philippines conveyed Tuesday their expansion plans to visiting Philippine President Benigno Aquino, his communications minister said.

    According to Secretary Herminio Coloma, Senji Miyake, chairman of Kirin Holdings Co. “expressed great interest in expanding their investments in the Philippines” during his meeting with Aquino immediately after the latter’s arrival here for his four-day state visit.

    Kirin has shares in the Philippines’ San Miguel Corp.

    Marubeni Corp., which has a 105-year history in the Philippines, is also “upbeat about current investments in power and energy development, mass transportation and water,” Coloma said.

    Teruo Asada, chairman of Marubeni, also expressed “great interest in exploring new fields of business development, such as commercial vehicles” in his separate meeting with Aquino, added Coloma.

    For his part, Tadashi Yanai, chairman of Fast Retailing Co., maker of Uniqlo apparels, “expressed appreciation for the auspicious results of their initial foray into the Philippine retail market.”

    Uniqlo has already set up 23 shops in the Philippines since its launch in 2012, employing around 1,200 people.

    In his meeting with Aquino, Yanai “spoke highly of the quality of Filipino employees in terms of talent and interpersonal skills,” Coloma said.

    Speaking to the Filipino community later in the evening, Aquino said Fast Retailing appears to be on the way of achieving its initial target of establishing 200 shops in the Philippines, “and even intends to accelerate it.”

    Capping Aquino’s business meetings on his first day in Tokyo was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation with the Japan External Trade Organization “to further accelerate two-way trade.”

    Coloma said JETRO praised the Philippine Economic Zone Authority for transforming “red tape to red carpet” for foreign investors.

    Aquino will meet with other business groups in Japan such as the Japanese Business Federation, also known as Keidanren, and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to lure more Japanese investments in the Philippines.

    The Philippine leader, who will also meet with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, will end his visit on Friday.

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  • SM in bid for Cherry Foodarama

    SM in bid for Cherry Foodarama

    Philippines retail conglomerate SM says it’s in talks to purchase grocery retailer Cherry Foodarama.

    In a disclosure to the inventory trade, SM Investments stated the 2 corporations are planning to enter right into a three way partnership, topic to agreeing on phrases.

    SM additionally operates in a JV association with Waltermart and rival retail big Ayala Group has a partnership with Puregold.

    Cherry Foodarama was based within the 1950s and is seen as one thing of a pioneer within the Philippines grocery enterprise. It has three shops in metro Manila – at Quezon Metropolis, Antipolo Metropolis and Mandaluyong.

    If the deal is sealed, it might take SM’s grocery retailer community to 232, the prevailing shops working underneath the SM Grocery store, Hypermarket, Savemore and Waltermart manufacturers.

    Puregold Worth Membership has 254 shops nationwide.

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  • PTT Philippines pouring in P450M for expansion

    PTT Philippines pouring in P450M for expansion

    AS part of the company’s robust expansion program, independent oil player PTT Philippines is pouring in P450-million worth of investment in retail this year.

    Khun Korawat Sungmongkol, PTT Philippines director for operations and logistics, said part of the expansion program is the rolling out of “mini gas stations.”

    He added that at least two mini gas stations will be initially put up for pilot-testing in Luzon and Visayas.

    “We will definitely try to roll [them] out first in Luzon because that’s where our strength is and maybe in Cebu as well,” Sungmongkol said in a forum.

    Once it passes the standards of the PTT head office in Thailand, he added, the project will be fully implemented in 2016.

    “This year will still be experimentation year. We have to get the confirmation of head office,” Sungmongkol said.

    He added that investment packages should be adjusted to fit requirements of local investors.

    PTT Philippines targets small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to invest in owning their mini gas stations.

    Investment in a mini gas station, Sungmongkol said, is 30 percent less than in a normal station.

    “A normal or compact PTT station costs around P8 million while a mini gas station could be P6 million,” he added.

    Sungmongkol said they are eyeing about 800 to 1,000 square meters for a mini gas station.

    “We have to comply with our head-office standards to make sure there’s enough space for fire safety and the tank we’ll install [in such station],” he added.

    PTT Philippines Marketing Director Khun Thitiroj Rergsumran said the mini gas stations are on top of the company’s 15 service stations target for this year.

    “For the Philippines, it is a policy also that we have to expand retail business. We get assignment from our head office to have 15 stations a year,” he added.

    This year, Rergsumran said, the company will concentrate on becoming the regional brand in the East Asian countries.

    “We’re going to have a very huge project in Vietnam and here in the Philippines,” he said.

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  • Laduree to open in Philippines

    Laduree to open in Philippines

    French patisserie Laduree has confirmed its entry into the Philippines.

    The Parisian retailer – well-known for its macarons, will open in Rockwell at Makati Metropolis in larger Manila on July 19.

    The model is being delivered to the Philippines by franchisee H&F Retail Ideas, whose MD Mark Gonzalez says the shop will promote macarons flown into the nation from Paris.

    The primary Laduree retailer will take up simply 55 sqm of retail area. It is going to be adopted by a Laduree salon de the tea salon and patisserie in one other Manila location subsequent yr.

    Based in 1862, Laduree pioneered the macaron which has in recent times turn out to be a cult meals merchandise, superseding the cupcake craze.

    H&F’s owns the Philippines franchises for retail manufacturers together with Balenciaga, Fred Perry, Pylones and operates multi-brand boutiques buying and selling underneath the the Univers and homme et femme banners.

  • UP Town Center rises

    UP Town Center rises

    It’s the first and only university town center in the Philippines,” says Rowena Tomeldan, vice president and head of operations at Ayala Land. Since it opened two years ago, the UP Town Center has served as a vibrant hub of leisure activity for the large student population and academic community from the premier schools along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, such as the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and Miriam College.

    This May, just in time for school opening, more retail stores and casual dining outlets opened their doors, as well as a department store and supermarket on 26,000 sq. m. floor plan, as part of its second phase development. The first phase, covering 4,700 sq. m, consists primarily of restaurants and a couple of retail stores. The last phase, covering 37,000 sqm, which will house more retail stores, restaurants, four cinemas as well as offices, is expected to be completed in 2016.

    “Ayala Land first entered into a lease agreement with the UP to develop the 7.4 hectares located within the campus grounds, and to build the shopping complex where the UP Integrated School formerly stood,” Ayala Land director Antonio Aquino, noted. “We kept the trees that were there. At least 40 percent of the total land area is preserved as open space. The buildings are low rises.”

    The place is secure and parents can feel that their children are safe in the mall.”

    For its young target market, popular fashion brands which have opened shop at the UP Town Center include Bench, Penshoppe, Bratpack, Birkenstock, Rookie USA, Artwork, Bambu, Claire’s, Tickles, Shoe Salon, Flying Dutchman, Just G., Bucket Feet, and Coalitions.  While for sports apparel, gear and equipment, which they need for their active lifestyle, there’s Planet Sports, Arena, Grind, Saucony, Urbangiz, Titan and Urban Athletics.

    Gadgets and accessories are part and parcel of millennials’ lives and at UP Town Center, there are stores to meet every techie’s needs, such as Digital Walker, Datablitz, Wonder Photo Shop, and Take Your Pic. And for good old-fashioned stationeries, there’s National Book Store, Paper Stone, and Papemelroti.

    For personal grooming and head-to-toe pampering, there’s Nail Tropics, Hey Sugar, and Sports Barber. Even pets get special treatment in this pet-friendly mall, at Uptown Animal Center.  There’s Qualimed, the mall-based health care center as well as shops to cater to lifestyle needs such as Visions Expression and Sewing Room. Kids will also be glad to find Toys R Us among the newly opened stores.

    Of course, the UP Town Center is not only for students and faculty but also for their families as well as residents in the area, and even visitors coming from other parts of the metro. It offers a number of affordable dining options as well as new dining concepts such as Pepper Lunch, Recovery Food, Jamba Juice, Sbarro, Rita’s, Wing Stop, Crisostomo, Ramen Nagi, and The Clean Plate.

    Time was when students could count with their fingers the number of places they could go to nearby at lunch break or after school, to grab a bite or simply relax after long hours inside the classroom. There was the ordinary school cafeteria which left much to be desired, and one or two restaurants outside the campus that served predictable meals. Not anymore. UP Town Center changes all that. More than a destination, UP Town Center promotes a thriving community where its denizens gather to learn, play, and live.