Our Year

ROBINSONS RETAIL HOLDINGS, INC. COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF RUSTAN SUPERCENTERS, INC.

From L-R: John Simpkins, DF Group Legal Manager; Neil Galloway, DF Group Finance Director; Robina Y.Gokongwei-Pe, RRHI President & CEO; James L.Go, RRHI Vice Chairman; and Lance Y. Gokongwei,RRHI Chairman.

Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. (RRHI) successfully acquired 100% stake in Rustan Supercenters, Inc. (RSCI) on November 23, 2018.

The acquisition of Rustan from Mulgrave Corporation, B.V. (MCBV), a subsidiary of Dairy Farm International Holdings, Inc. (DF), by RRHI was announced in March 2018 and was finalized after being granted approval by regulatory agencies. The Securities and Exchange Commission approved the transaction on November 15, 2018, and the Philippine Competition Commission on August 16, 2018.

The transaction was done primarily through a share-swap agreement and DF executives Ian Mcleod and Kim Samuel Sanghyun have joined RRHI’s Board of Directors.

Rustan’s total network of 88 stores became part of RRHI’s food retail chains, which include Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Selections, Robinsons Easymart and Jaynith’s Supermart.

ROBINSONS RETAIL PARTNERS WITH GROWSARI

In September 2018, Robinsons Supermarket entered into a joint-venture with G2M Solutions Philippines Pte Ltd and invested in a Php105 million convertible note issued by Growsari Inc., which is equivalent to 28.6% of Growsari. The local tech startup company which provides a mobile grocery delivery service to sari-sari store owners. It runs as a distribution company that connects the sari-sari store members directly to the manufacturers or large wholesalers, hence, eliminating the need to rely on small/medium wholesalers. In doing so, this can double the earnings of the sari-sari store owners.

Through the GrowSari mobile app, sari-sari store members have the convenience to order online. Items will be delivered straight to their stores the following day and they will pay via cash on delivery or accumulated points.

The company’s tech infrastructure is all developed in-house, from call center operations to warehouse management, delivery fleet management, customer relationship management to data analytics.

UP Fighting Maroons Reaches UAAP Season 81 Finals

Thirty-two years since its last bid for the championship title, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons Men’s Basketball Team reached the finals against the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81. The game was held on December 5, 2018 at the Araneta Coliseum, with the Ateneo Blue Eagles defending their crown for the second year in a row.

Since 2010, Handyman and Robinsons Supermarket have been sponsoring the UP Fighting Maroons MBT. Long considered the UAAP underdog after winless seasons and early eliminations the state university’s team reaching the Finals was one of the highlights of the intercollegiate games, earning support from across the academic community among students and alumni.

Robinsons Rewards Goes Mobile

In a move towards digitalization, Robinsons Retail has launched the Robinsons Rewards Mobile App for iOS and Android devices. The app allows members to earn, monitor, and redeem points through their smartphones when they shop at participating Robinsons Retail brands and merchant partners.

Members also have access to app-exclusive deals promos and online registration is free and requires no renewal. A unique QR-code is assigned to each member, which is scanned in store to reflect earned and redeemed points. In addition, the current Robinsons Rewards cardholders can link their accounts to the app simply by scanning the barcode located at the back of their cards. Transactions are also recorded in real time and profile information can be updated anytime and anywhere.

Much like the original Robinsons Rewards Card, which was launched in 2013, points can be earned and redeemed through purchases from the company’s participating brands and transactions with its merchant partners, where one point is equivalent to Php 1.00.

However, unlike the usual card-based membership that is renewable every two years for a Php150 fee, online registration is free for life and requires no renewal.

Robinsons Retail’s participating brands include Robinsons Supermarket, Robinsons Department Store, Robinsons Appliances, Handyman Do it Best, True Value, Toys R Us, Daiso Japan, Costa Coffee; fashion specialty stores Topshop, Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Burton Menswear, Warehouse, Miss Selfridge; and selected branches of beauty formats Benefit, Shiseido, and Elizabeth Arden.

Merchant partners are Summit Hotels and Resorts, Go Hotels, Caltex of Chevron Philippines, Robinsons Mastercard, BPI Express Credit, and Dragonpay.

Robinsons Supermarket movesto Mega Distribution Center

On June 1, 2018, Robinsons Supermarket transitioned to a new mega 4.6 hectare distribution center in Sucat, Parañaque. The building, which was leased from Robinsons Land while the warehousing operations is being handled by DHL Logistics, will allow the supermarket business to service around 250 stores as it continues expansion nationwide.

RRHI Enters Pet Retail With Pet Lovers Centre

Singapore-based Pet Lovers Centre (PLC) made its debut in the Philippines through a franchise license agreement with Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. The first store is located in Robinsons Galleria and it opened on October 19, 2018. The pet retail and service chain was founded by David and Robert Ng in 1973 and is the biggest of its kind in Singapore. At present, it has a network of over a hundred stores spread across Southeast Asia.

Korean Lifestyle Store ARCOVA Enters the Philippines

Opening two branches on December 7, 2018 at Robinsons Forum and Robinsons Place Antipolo, Arcova was brought to the Philippines by Robinsons Retail through a franchise license agreement with Arcova International Co., Ltd. The brand’s design team is based in Korea, where they develop product concepts under the following categories: cosmetics and personal care, electronic and fashion accessories.

Club Clio in Robinsons Galleria

Launched in 1993 by top Korean make-up artists, Club Clio has a multibrand cosmetics portfolio with strong color make-up products. RSSI - Beauty Division opened its first Club Clio store in Robinsons Galleria on November 23, 2018 as a licensed reseller for Luxasia. Club Clio has a multi-brand cosmetics portfolio with strong color makeup products. Club Clio has since then become a leader in the K-Beauty industry and is present in over 17 countries.

Dressed to Impress:

X-Gen Enterprises' promise of quality

Jenny Gutierrez, X-Gen Enterprises General Manager

With Jenny Gutierrez as proprietor and General Manager, X-Gen Enterprises currently supplies around 90% of the uniforms for store personnel across Robinsons Retail’s formats. But before acting as a non-trade vendor since 2009, Jenny already knew about the company as an in-store employee back in 2001.

“It all started with my first uniform, actually. I worked as a saleslady in Robinsons Department Store Galleria and my husband, who is a tailor, sewed it for me. Since we had the design, we worked together to make uniforms for other salesladies as well,” said Jenny.

“We officially put up our uniform production business when we earned enough capital. From the start, we wanted to deliver quality, regardless of quantity, and it took a lot of hard work to get to where we are. This is probably why Robinsons Retail took a chance on us, even if we were still a very small business.”

Life-changing

“Looking back now, I don’t know how I had enough courage to knock on the doors of Robinsons Retail, one of the largest retailers in the country, and pitch for our company. It was faith and fate, I suppose, and the contract was life-changing for us. Our purchase orders became bigger than we’ve ever gotten, and to keep up, we’ve had to hire more people,” recalled Jenny.

X-Gen Enterprises works mostly with almost 60 tailors and seamstresses in Payatas, Manila, where Jenny gets in touch with around ten families looking for primary or additional sources of income. She provides the materials, designs, and checks for quality, as well as their tools of the trade.

“We have in-house facilities but they can also do the work from their houses. A number of the women we work with are stay-at-home mothers and we let them borrow the sewing machines so it is easier for them. If they want to, they can own the machine eventually, which they would pay for through friendly installments.”

Built upon trust

Ultimately, the X-Gen Enterprises has become a long-term supplier for Robinsons Retail because of their reliability and precision. As the group continues to grow in terms of store count and brand portfolio, it opens more avenues to engage various sectors along its supply chain.

“We are very proud of the work we put into our products, and we pay attention to every stitch or button in every uniform before they are delivered. This is because we love what we do and we take care of the trust we have built with Robinsons Retail through the years,” shared Jenny.

“After all, trust is where it all started.”

Rare, Organic, and Sustainable Produce:

Robinsons Supermarket partners with WOW Fruits and Veggies for Health & Wellness

Jun Nacion, Wow Fruits and Veggies Proprietor

WOW Fruits and Veggies believes in sustainability it is at the heart of what they do, and they consider the farmers their partners in promoting eco-friendly agriculture.

In June 2018, Robinsons Supermarket partnered with WOW Fruits and Veggies to bring goods with unique nutritional value, from fresh baby lettuce, aubergines, lakatan bananas, and Oriental selections such as mizuna and soy, to a number of stores in Metro Manila.

Helping each other out

“It’s a classic big brother and small brother relationship that is mutually beneficial. Our engagement with Robinsons Supermarket allowed us to tap into a bigger mainstream market, while we add to the diversity of fresh items in the stores. We also value having access to a portal for sales monitoring to generate reports, from which we craft our strategies,” said Jun.

“We are also aligned with the company in terms of what we want to give consumers: healthy and nutritious food that contributes to their well-being.”

Rooted in Sustainability

Jorge “Jun” Nacion Jr. used to work in Information Technology before he shifted his focus to farming. Burnt out by the fast-paced corporate environment and wanting a change in scenery, he founded WOW Fruits and Veggies. The small company currently works with seven local farmers in Benguet and Cavite to grow high quality organic produce that are not commonly found in most mall grocers.

Brought about by a passion for plants and sustainable farming, Jun’s business model is founded on putting high priority on the health of soil and supporting local livelihoods.

“The soil is the most important aspect of our operations. We are GAP Certified and our practices make sure that we maintain the right balance of nutrition in the earth, and we do not let harsh chemicals leak into the environment. We have also begun to use aquaphonics, where we cycle water into systems that minimize water use and provide natural fertilizer from fish waste,” he continued.

“Sustainability touches on issues of food security and responsibly using natural resources, as well as empowering people. Quite literally, working with Robinsons Supermarket allows us to bring the fruits of the farmer’s labor to a growing breed of eco-conscious shoppers. We are helping build a culture that is more thoughtful about food sources and health, and we look forward to growing the business and this culture even further with Robinsons Supermarket.”

RUSTAN’s Farm to Table Project:

Bridging the gap between farmers and consumers

Rinkoh Hernandez, Municipal Agriculturist

Robert Cuasay, SLFA President

Rustan Supercenters, Inc. (RSCI) partnered with the San Luis Farmers’ Association (SLFA) in August 2018 to support local small-hold farmers from Batangas to bring their produce to its supermarkets in Metro Manila. The initiative, called the Farm to Table Project, engages 55 farmers spread across nine barangays in the municipality of San Luis, namely Bonliw, Balagtasin, Abiacao, Durungao, San Isidro, Bagong Tubig, Buboy, Luya, and Sta Monica.

Stability and Fair Prices

“Our member farmers in SLFA used to rely solely on wet markets in nearby municipalities and Batangas City to sell their vegetables, where there was less assurance that the produce would be bought and sold at the right market prices. The project, on the other hand, guarantees stable farm gate prices and a sure buyer given the partnership with Rustan” said Roberto Cuasay, President of SLFA.

Roberto Cuasay, a farmer himself, believes that the project is empowering because they are treated fairly. The management is transparent and they treat the members as partners in the endeavor. The stability of Rustan orders, which can reach 2-3 tonnes daily and delivered to company’s warehouse in Taguig, encourages them to produce more and better quality vegetables.

Collaborative Farming

“We try to help the farmers the best way we can by listening to them. One of the biggest hurdles we learned is transporting the goods and the LGU has stepped in to provide this without additional costs to the farmers. We also introduce the best practices we get from abroad and from each other so we create a pool of knowledge that is shared. This way, the way we do crop rotation is informed and systematic,” shared Rinkoh.

In terms of impact, twenty farmers are on their way to becoming certified by the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) arm of the Department of Agriculture, which is the track for other farmers. SLFA’s number of members is also growing, and the diversity of the goods has also gone from ampalaya (bitter gourd) and sitaw (stringbeans) to include, tomatoes, two types of chili peppers, eggplants, okra, pechay (Chinese cabbage), calamansi, ginger, squash, and even eggs.

On top of the financial gains for the farmers, it has also created a sense of community and uplifting their lives, which is important in a country where agriculture is one of the most underserved sectors.

True Value

Volunteers for Marawi in Servathon 2018

On September 29, 2018, True Value took part in SERVATHON (Service Marathon) 2018 with the theme “All Hands On Deck for the Children of Marawi.” This marks the company’s eight year of partnership with Hands On Manila Foundation, Inc., one of the country’s leading volunteerismoriented nonprofit organizations.

Under the leadership of Atty. Gianna R. Montinola, President of Hands On Manila and Board Member of True Value, SERVATHON was conceptualized to engage corporations and various institutions to contribute to social causes that benefit marginalized groups.

For this year’s project, True Value volunteers made hand sanitizers to be included in relief packages. These will be distributed to evacuees in towns and villages hosting shelters for the displaced families from conflictafflicted areas at the wake of the Marawi Crisis of 2017.

Robinsons Retail

Volunteers Join International Coastal Clean Up

Employee volunteers participated in 2018’s International Coastal Clean Up at Manila Bay.

Numerous companies and individuals joined the initiative to help raise awareness on pollution, climate issues, and responsible consumption.

The Pink Movement:

RSSI and PFBCI support women with breast cancer

Robinsons Specialty Stores, Inc. (RSSI) once again showed support for women in association with the Philippine Foundation for Breast Care, Inc. (PFBCI), a non-profit organization advocating greater awareness and aid for breast cancer patients and survivors.

The partnership between RSSI and PFBCI began in 2016 and involves activities to help empower women as they undergo their treatments as well as raise awareness on the disease. Called The Pink Movement, the campaign this year was conducted in two phases.

“The first phase was held at the East Avenue Medical Center on October 20, 2018, where beneficiaries were treated to makeovers, makeup tutorials, and product giveaways.

The second phase was held at the RRHI Head Office on November 7, 2018. Here, employees were invited to a talk on breast cancer and the importance of breast care, self-examination, and professional check-ups.

ROBINSONS SUPERMARKET

Fit & Fun Run on its 11th Year

Even the seasonal downpour could not dampen the spirits of 4,500 individuals who attended Robinsons Supermarket’s Fit & Fun Wellness Buddy Run held on July 8, 2018. Going strong on its 11th year, the annual activity requires participants to finish the race in tandem. With major partners Nestlé, Unilab, Fonterra, Wyeth Nutrition and Johnson & Johnson, the event is conducted part of Robinsons Supermarket’s commitment to educate and empower Filipinos in making healthier choices.

SOUTHSTAR DRUG

Run for Wellness 9 Celebrates Life in Color

Southstar Drug conducted its annual health and wellness run on September 9, 2018 at Plaza Quezon in Naga City. On its ninth year and with the theme “Color your Run”, the event was attended by over 1,700 participants from the Bicol region and was supported by 47 business partners. With sprays of pigmented powders amidst the occasional rain, the event was held to encourage healthy choices among consumers as they celebrate life and its myriad of colors.

Robinsons Builders

Donation of Tiles to Schools for Brigada Eskwela

Robinsons Builders partnered with the Department of Education for Brigada Eskwela throughout 2018. Robinsons Builders donated floor tiles to help various public schools in the country, founded on the premise that spaces and good environments are crucial to learning. The tiles will be used to decorate the cemented alleys of the school in time for the academic year of 2018-19. The donation was made in line with Robinsons Builders’ advocacy in education, where it sees the relevance of creating spaces conducive for learning and development.

TGP partners with

Wish 107.5 for Byaheng TGPagpagaling

Started on May 18, 2018 in Sagbayan, Bohol, The Generics Pharmacy partnered with Wish 107.5 for Byaheng TGPagpagaling, a medical mission combined with a freeconcert to celebrate the healing power of music. The event welcomed over 700 patients for blood-glucose and cholesterol screening and general medical check-ups. Wish 107.5 accepted song requests and invited guests to sing on stage during the open mic segment. The event, which was held throughout the year in different provinces, also showcases performances from local bands.

Southstar Drug

Touch Therapy for Babies

Southstar Drug, in partnership with Johnson & Johnson, Mead Johnson, and Right Start Foundation, conducted a touch therapy learning session for new mothers on April 6, 2018 at the Right Start Center. During the event, milk products were also donated to promote proper nutrition at every stage in childhood development. Touch therapy for infants is suggested to deepen the emotional bond between a mother and her child. It involves gentle massage techniques that soothe and relax babies, and helps improve their overall health.

Ministop

Mother’s Day with Kapuso Cancer Champions

Ministop supported GMA Kapuso Foundation in paying homage to the mothers of children with cancer on May 8, 2018 at the QCX Museum in Quezon City Memorial Circle. Ministop donated healthy grocery items to the beneficiaries and joined in the celebration with GMA Kapuso artists. Diagnosed at an early age, the Kapuso Cancer Champions kids receive chemotherapy assistance from the media network foundation.

2018 Highlights