LISTED Ayala Corp. and United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based supermarket chain Spinneys plan to open 12 stores across Metro Manila starting within the fourth quarter (Q4).
“Spinneys is a invaluable addition to the Philippine grocery landscape,” Ayala Corp. Managing Director and Ayala Land Head of Leasing and Hospitality Mariana Zobel de Ayala said in an announcement on Thursday.
“Premium grocery retail today is about greater than what’s on the shelves — it’s about curation, service, and the enjoyment of discovery. The entry of Spinneys brings a brand new dimension to grocery shopping, expanding the range of selections available locally and further enriching our dynamic retail landscape,” she added.
Spinneys is owned by Al Seer Group, a UAE-based consumer holding company with interests in food, retail, hospitality, shipyards, and construction across greater than 20 countries.
Under the three way partnership, Spinneys’ first stores will open at Ayala Malls U.P. Town Center in Quezon City and San Antonio Plaza Arcade in Makati City.
These stores will function anchor tenants within the Ayala Malls developments.
“Having spent a few years in Dubai, I’ve seen how Spinneys has turn out to be a benchmark for premium grocery experiences. We’re thrilled to bring this globally best-in-class model to Ayala Malls, giving our customers access to the identical high-quality, internationally inspired offerings here within the Philippines,” Ayala Malls Chief Operating Officer Paul Birkett said.
“Our aim is to deliver a thoughtfully curated grocery experience that reflects global standards, while remaining firmly grounded in local tastes and preferences.”
In October, Ayala Corp. and Spinneys entered right into a partnership to open stores within the Philippines, marking Spinneys’ first expansion outside the Gulf region.
Through the partnership, Spinneys will introduce features from its Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) operations to the Philippines, including imported goods, private-label products, and store design concepts from the region.
“The partnership also builds on Spinneys’ long-standing reference to the Philippines, where over 1,300 Filipinos already form a part of its GCC workforce. The enterprise each strengthens avenues for Filipinos looking for opportunities abroad, in addition to creates pathways for overseas staff to return home and contribute to the expansion of local industry,” the corporate said.
Shares in Ayala Corp. fell by 2.77% to P526 apiece on Thursday. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno