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Tag: Philippines

  • PAL adds seats to Manila-New York flights

    PAL adds seats to Manila-New York flights

    Philippine Airlines (PAL) is increasing seat capacity for its Manila-New York flights by shifting to a bigger aircraft this month.

    PAL said, starting October 26, it will shift to the Boeing B777-300 for long-haul operations between the two cities.

    The B777 is a 370-seater (42 business/328 economy) state-of-the-art and fuel-efficient aircraft. PAL is current using the 254-seater Airbus A340s for its Manila-New York flights.

    “Using the B777 to the US Mainland enables us to achieve our goal of operating our long haul flights efficiently and economically. With this shift, passengers on the route will experience PAL’s trademark Filipino service in the comfort of the modern B777,” PAL president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista said.

    PAL currently utilizes B777s for its San Francisco, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Toronto operations as well as select regional and international routes.

    The national flag carrier said it is taking delivery of two additional B777 units, slated to arrive in October and December 2016, respectively.

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  • Alfamart Set to Open Up To 120 Shops in Philippines

    Alfamart Set to Open Up To 120 Shops in Philippines

     Sumber Alfaria Trijaya, the operator of the Alfamart comfort retailer chain, plans to open between 100 and 120 new shops within the Philippines via its subsidiary Alfamart Retail Asia, as a part of the corporate’s regional enlargement plan.

    The corporate has estimated the brand new shops will value Rp 50 billion ($three.eight million) and has secured a mortgage from banks within the Philippines to fund the funding.

    The corporate’s Philippines shops are operated as a part of a three way partnership between Alfamart Retail Asia and native retailer SM Retail Grocery store. Alfamart Retail Asia has 35 % fairness within the enterprise.

    Presently the enterprise operates 44 shops.

    Sumber Alfaria Trijaya plans to open 1,200 shops in Indonesia this yr, and has set apart Rp 2 trillion from its inner money fund for the enlargement. The retailer had 10,086 shops in Indonesia on the finish of March, together with 2,958 franchise shops.

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  • Philippines to import extra rice as El Nino bites – sources

    Philippines to import extra rice as El Nino bites – sources

    President Benigno Aquino has approved a proposal to import more rice this year, government sources said, in a move to avert a potential spike in food price inflation due to forecast El Nino affected dry weather conditions.

    Fresh buying by the Philippines, one of the world’s biggest rice importers, could help support rice export prices in Asia, which have fallen in recent months because of weak demand.

    The final terms of the increased imports, which normally specify the amount and variety, are still subject to approval by the National Food Authority (NFA) Council headed by Food Security Chief Francis Pangilinan, the two sources said.

    The Philippine government last week revised down its estimate of first-half domestic rice production, with dry weather already affecting more than half of the country’s 81 provinces.

    The sources declined to disclose the volume of additional imports, although industry sources have said the Philippines may buy up to 310,000 tonnes more this year, with shipments expected before the lean harvest season starting July.

    The Southeast Asian nation recently bought 500,000 tonnes via government-to-government deals with key sellers Vietnam and Thailand, and regional supplies remain abundant.

    Thailand, the world’s second-biggest rice exporter after India, has said its plans to sell 2 million tonnes of rice over the next two months from stockpiles built up under the previous administration’s failed buying program.

    In Vietnam, the world’s third-largest exporter where prices have weakened this week on a lack of buying demand, a new crop harvest will begin from around late June, traders said.

    FOOD INFLATION IN FOCUS

    A dramatic rise in retail rice prices in the Philippines last year after damage to supply chains from Super Typhoon Haiyan pushed food price inflation to the highest in more than five years.

    Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said in March that the government must guard against future food price spikes, which had driven up the country’s poverty rate.

    The El Nino phenomenon, a warming of sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific, can lead to scorching weather across Asia and east Africa and is almost certain to last through the Northern Hemisphere summer, the U.S. weather forecaster has said.

    A significant El Nino would put the Philippines’ headline inflation well over the 2-4 percent target by 2016, which could put the central bank under pressure to raise interest rates sooner than expected, HSBC economists said this month.

    “We now expect two rate hikes in 1Q and 2Q (next year), but food inflation risks could bring this into late 2015,” HSBC said.

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  • Huawei plans main retail rollout

    Huawei plans main retail rollout

    Chinese language cell phone model Huawei is planning a serious Asian regional retail rollout.

    “Our model constructing finances might be doubled for the Southeast Asian markets since there’s a robust risk of progress in market share,” says Huawei Shopper Enterprise Group CEO Richard Yu.

    Huawei will add about 1500 customer support facilities worldwide – and greater than 100 of these will probably be in Thailand, which is Huawei’s regional hub for the Southeast Asian area.

    Yu stated Huawei recognises Southeast Asia as a high-potential market, and the corporate is planning to beef up its funding in model constructing actions on this area.

    “Our merchandise have good high quality, so we’ve little question that we’ll attain our goals,” he stated.

    For instance, Huawei’s market share in Myanmar is 50 per cent “as a result of the merchandise meet the calls for of the shoppers, and the gross sales improve by phrase of mouth”.

    Yu stated Thailand would be the focus of Huawei’s funding within the area. The corporate has chosen Bangkok because the venue for a regional press launch for its new Huawei P8 handset and its wearable units subsequent week, (Might 28).

    “Our income is excellent in Myanmar, India, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Thailand can also be an enormous market with plenty of potential, so we at the moment are specializing in it,” stated Yu. “Thailand is admittedly a sophisticated market, but in addition a gorgeous one, so Huawei is prepared to enter this market. Though it takes time, we’re decided to succeed right here. We’re prepared to take a position all yr spherical.”

    In accordance with an IPSOS International Analysis report masking 32 nations, Huawei’s model consciousness rose from 52 per cent in 2013 to 65 per cent in 2014, representing a year-on yr improve of 25 per cent.

    As an Asian model, Huawei’s model consciousness within the international market simply rivals different Western manufacturers. In Western Europe, Huawei recorded model consciousness of 61 per cent within the Netherlands, 60 per cent in Spain, 57 per cent in Germany and 54 per cent in Italy.

    Huawei has turn out to be the primary Chinese language firm to efficiently enter Interbrand’s Prime 100 International Manufacturers of 2014 record, taking 94th place.

    Huawei began out so small virtually 30 years in the past, and has grown right into a multinational telecommunication big at present. Based in 1987, the China-based firm is now generally known as the world’s third largest smartphone vendor, following Apple and Samsung. However in its China house market it’s already lagging behind quick rising current entrant Xiaomi which is the highest promoting model presently, forward of Apple and Samsung.

  • 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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  • 7-Eleven Philippines gross sales soar

    7-Eleven Philippines gross sales soar

    Philippine Seven Company, the native licensee of 7-Eleven Comfort Shops, has reported a 12.9 per cent progress in internet revenue for the primary quarter of 2015.

    The corporate says the rise is the results of improved working margin and its aggressive 7-Eleven Philippines retailer enlargement program throughout the nation.

    The community of firm owned and franchised shops’ gross sales rose by 24.2 per cent from P4.four billion (US$98.9 million) within the first quarter to 2014 P5.5 billion (US$123.6 million) within the newest quarter. First quarter internet revenue reached P112.9 million ($2.5 million).

    On the finish of the quarter, PSC had constructed its community to 1341 shops – a rise of 292 year-on-year.

    The corporate stated the speed of earnings progress was slower than top-line progress because of the elevated spending attributed to increasing the logistics infrastructure of the corporate. PSC has been constructing the capability of its distribution middle to help its enlargement within the totally different elements of the nation, together with the islands within the Visayas and in DavaoCity.

    Jose Victor Paterno, president and CEO, stated PSC has taken steps to guard and broaden its management in mild of elevated competitors, recognising that rewards for market share are particularly robust within the comfort retailer sector.

    “This includes not solely an elevated tempo of enlargement in areas contested by competitors, however strategic entry into new territories. The latter could also be unprofitable for the primary few years because of the excessive fastened prices of logistics, however we consider will later be rewarded with robust first mover benefits,” he stated.

    “Final yr we entered Panay and constructed on our entry into Negros and Cebu the years prior. This yr we will probably be getting into Mindanao by way of Davao and Cagayan de Oro.”

    For 2015, the corporate might be growing its capital expenditures price range by greater than 50 per cent to help its accelerated retailer enlargement technique.

    Philippine Seven Company operates the most important comfort retailer community within the nation. It acquired from Southland Company (now Seven Eleven Inc.) of Dallas, Texas the license to function 7-Eleven Philippines shops in December 1982 and listed on the Philippine Inventory Trade in February, 1998.

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  • Maisen Tonkatsu heads to Philippines

    Maisen Tonkatsu heads to Philippines

    Maisen Tonkatsu, described as Japan’s “greatest tonkatsu restaurant”, is to open a sequence of eating places within the Philippines.

    The primary restaurant, described as a flagship, will open at SM Megamall by the third quarter of 2015.

    Maisen Tonkatsu, based in 1965, will increase into the Philippines underneath Katsucuisine Inc, a subsidiary of its Japanese father or mother Suyen Company.

    Thought-about the market chief in its class in Tokyo, the restaurant model is steadily increasing in Asia. It has six branches in Bangkok, Thailand, a part of a community now numbering 1100 worldwide.

    Foodies and vacationers alike typically queue outdoors the Tokyo eating places whose profile has been boosted by in depth reward on social media and by skilled reviewers.

    The restaurant’s positioning slogan is: “Tender tonkatsu you’ll be able to minimize with chopsticks.”

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  • Philippines’ Emperador Says Seeks to Buy Cognac Firm From Japan’s Suntory

    Philippines’ Emperador Says Seeks to Buy Cognac Firm From Japan’s Suntory

    Philippine liquor firm Emperador said on Monday it has submitted a bid to buy French cognac maker Louis Royer from Japan’s Suntory Holdings, and could go to the debt market to fund the deal.

    The acquisition is unlikely to cost Emperador more than last year’s $700 million deal to buy the Whyte & Mackay whisky unit of India’s United Spirits, company director and spokesman Kingson Sian said.

    Sian declined to disclose Emperador’s offer citing a confidentiality agreement, and said he was not aware who the other bidders for Louis Royer were.

    “After the first round, there may be a second round … There may be a shortlist first, so it’s too early to say,” Sian said when asked when the bidding results were likely to be released.

    Suntory declined to comment on Emperador’s offer. “It is a company policy that Suntory does not make any comment on such reports,” a spokeswoman in Japan said.

    Suntory, one of Japan’s oldest companies, is looking to sell off its smaller assets to consolidate its portfolio and finance its acquisitions, Sian said.

    Suntory bought U.S. drinks firm Beam in a deal last year valued at about $15.7 billion. It was the third-biggest acquisition by a Japanese company.

    Emperador, mainly a brandy producer with a market value of $4 billion, bought Whyte & Mackay last year as part of a long-term strategy to expand its product portfolio and global reach.

    Shortly after its purchase of Whyte & Mackay, Emperador joined the Philippines’ benchmark stock index.

    “We want to continue the momentum and sustain the strong growth going forward,” Sian told reporters after the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting.

    “We’re going to hit all the major markets – China, Taiwan, Korea, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong – for our signature products,” Sian said.

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  • FitFlop unflappable about Thailand investment scheme

    FitFlop unflappable about Thailand investment scheme

    The Primer Group of Companies, a Philippines lifestyle fashion company, believes sales of FitFlop shoes in Asia-Pacific this year will outpace last year’s with Thailand driving growth.

    Camille Karaan, deputy director and vice-president of Primer International Management Ltd, the operator of FitFlop shops in Asia-Pacific, said despite the Thai economy slowing it would maintain its investment in the Thai market, particularly for exclusive product designs.

    The company started producing exclusive shoe designs for Thailand three years ago, which received a warm response from ASEAN customers, particularly the Shasha collection. About 150,000 pairs of Shasha sandals were sold in Asia-Pacific last year, compared with a record high of 100,000 pairs for its regular collections.

  • John Lewis eyes 11 store openings in the Philippines this summer

    John Lewis eyes 11 store openings in the Philippines this summer

    Britain’s John Lewis Partnership said on Sunday it planned to expand internationally by opening outlets in 11 branches of department stores in the Philippines.

    The outlets, due to open this summer, follow its establishment of shops in seven branches of South Korean chain Shinsegae and an already announced plan to open outlets in three branches of Singapore department store Robinsons.

    The Philippines stores will be set up within branches of SM Retail and Our Home, John Lewis said in a statement, and will be between 300 and 1,000 square feet (30-93 square meters) in size.

    “The success of our partnership with Shinsegae has given us the confidence to continue our expansion in the international market,” said Andy Street, managing director at John Lewis.

    “We are actively looking for more international partnerships, and expect to make more announcements about our international plans in the next year.”

    Street said that while the move would give John Lewis, which already delivers to 33 countries, access to a new emerging market, its focus on physical expansion remained on Britain.

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  • Robinsons expands loyalty card program

    Robinsons expands loyalty card program

    Filipino retailer Robinsons Retail Holdings expects to boost the ranks of its loyalty program membership beyond 1 million by the year’s end after forging a new partneship with Caltex.

    Robinsons, the Philippines second largest retail group, says its Robinsons Rewards Card membership has grown rapidly throughout the last year to about 850,000 now. At the current growth rate, it is on track to reach the new milestone within this year.

    RRHI president and COO Robina Gokongwei-Pe said a new  partnership with Chevron Philippines (Caltex), will help build critical mass. It is the first non-Robinson retail brand to join the program.

    Robinsons Rewards Card holders can now earn points through purchasing fuel and other products at Caltex stations and points can be redeemed and used as a discount card to 21 Robinsons Retail brands as well as in Caltex stations nationwide.

    The other Robinsons Retail brands are Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Selections, Robinsons Easymart, Robinsons Appliances, Toys “R” Us, Handyman, True Value, AM Builders Depot, Daiso Japan, Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkinsm Miss Selfridge, Warehouse, River Island, Shana, G2000, Shiseido, and Benefit.

  • SSI Group profit soars

    SSI Group profit soars

    The Philippines’ largest specialty store retail business, SSI Group, has reported a massive 63 per cent jump in its annual profit.

    SSI Group says its 2014 surplus was 998.7 million Pesos (US$66.9 million), up from 613.7 million P ($41 million) in 2013.

    The company’s brand portfolio includes Marks and Spencer, Gucci, Burberry, Hermès, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Lacoste, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Gap, Bershka, Aeropostale, Samsonite, Nine West and Payless Shoe Source.

    SSI Group says its performance is the result of an aggressive store rollout program, strong gross profit margins and the depth and breadth of its brand portfolio. It expanded its store network by 126 outlets last year.

    The group’s annual sales rose 19 per cent to P15.2 billion, and in the last quarter by 26 per cent to P5.2 billion.

    In a statement, SSI Group president Anton T Huang described the outlook for 2015 as positive.

    “2014 was a landmark year for SSI as we executed our largest store expansion program to date. We continue to leverage on a brand portfolio that resonates with consumers, on the availability of prime retail space, and on evolving consumption patterns and consumer tastes.

    “We expect that these factors will continue to drive our performance in 2015,” he said.

    The company now operates 723 specialty stores with a combined floor space of 134,000 sqm and represents 106 brands in the Philippines.

    It also operates 90 FamilyMart convenience stores.

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  • SSI Group plans 130 new stores

    SSI Group plans 130 new stores

    Fresh from announcing record profit growth, Philippines specialty retail operator SSI Group says it plans to open 130 new stores this year.

    The expansion plan will be ramped up even further if current discussions with four international fashion brands not yet launched in the Philippines come to fruition. They could arrive late this year or in early 2016.

    As reported by Inside Retail Asia on Tuesday, SSI Group grew topline sales by 19 per cent last year and achieved a 63 per cent increase in profit.

    It ended the year with 723 specialty stores and 134,000 sqm of retail trading area. The company’s brand portfolio includes Marks and Spencer, Gucci, Burberry, Hermès, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Lacoste, Michael Kors, Kate Spade, Gap, Bershka, Aeropostale, Samsonite, Nine West and Payless Shoe Source.

    SSI President Anton T Huang said the company will continue its expansion strategy, with plans to add 21,000 sqm of trading area this year and a further 16,000 sqm in 2016.

    The growth is being spurred by the growing disposable income of middle class Filipinos and rapid development of new shopping malls.

    SSI already has a presence in at least 70 shopping centres across the country.

    The last three years saw SSI add 64,000 sqm of retail space, more than half of that opening last year alone.

    “There really is a very steady supply of new shopping malls coming up, just taking into account the continued growth in consumption expenditure and increasing sophistication of consumers not only in suburban areas within the metropolis but in secondary cities throughout the country,” Huang said.

    “Just looking at 2014, it was a very good year for us… We grew our top line sales by 19 per cent and in terms of fourth quarter alone, we grew our top line sales by 26 per cent,” said Huang.

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  • Lawson Philippines debuts today

    Lawson Philippines debuts today

    The much anticipated debut of Lawson Philippines will occur today, Monday.

    The first store will open in the Manila suburb of Sta. Ana.

    Lawson Philippines is a joint venture between local operator Puregold Price Club (70 per cent) and Lawson Japan (30 per cent). The two companies plan a massive network of 500 convenience stores across the Philippines by 2020, with up to 100 opening this calendar year.

    Initially the chain will be focused on metro Manila.

    Lawson’s debut will have little immediate effect on the nation’s cstore sector, but once it builds critical mass, it will present a challenge to the dominance 7-Eleven chain and compete with the rising FamilyMart and Ministop networks.

    “Under the partnership, Lawson will provide its expertise in convenient stores know-how and product development while Puregold will provide its expertise in product procurement and localized knowledge of the retail consumers,” the company said in a statement.

    In May 2014, during a visit to Manila, Lawson Japan chairman Takeshi Niinami said the company was planning as many as 2000 convenience stores in the Philippines in the long term.

  • Lawson Philippines set for debut

    Lawson Philippines set for debut

    Lawson Philippines will launch later this month with the first of 500 stores planned in a partnership with local retailer Puregold Price Club.

    Puregold will own 70 per cent of the joint venture partnership with the Japanese convenience store retailer, which will hold the remaining 30 per cent.

    The company has yet to reveal the location of the first store, but Investor Relations Officer John T. Hao confirmed in an interview with Business World Online that construction is underway on the first five stores.

    The supermarket company says it has allocated P500 million on rolling out the first 50 to 100 Lawson stores this year.

    The Lawson Philippines network will initially be focused on metro Manila, mostly in the university belt and business districts.

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