Robinsons Supermarket has revamped its third branch in Robinsons Magnolia in Quezon City, to be followed by nine more renovations nationwide this 12 months.
Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. President and CEO Stanley C. Co said about P200 million has been allocated for the renovation of the supermarkets, which he has deemed an “investment” resulting from anticipated increase in foot traffic of the renovated grocery stores.
“We’re willing to spend because for us, we all know that eventually, there might be a return,” Mr. Co said in an interview throughout the Robinsons Magnolia Supermarket relaunch on Feb. 27.
Mr. Co said the revamping of their chosen supermarkets is an elevation of their branches from “middle” to “inexpensive premium” market, taking into account the shopping habits across different generations from Gen X to Gen Z.
“For the primary two stores, we saw improved basket size and transaction count,” said Mr. Co.
In December, Robinsons Supermarket relaunched their branches in Robinsons Nuvali and Robinsons Galleria, the most important branch in keeping with Robinsons Supermarket Group General Manager Kerwin L. Legarde.
“We’ve experienced not only foot traffic but we saw an uplifted customer spending… We’re achieving our goals,” Mr. Legarde told BusinessWorld.
The revitalized supermarkets bear the identical interiors with green tiles, gray partitions for the meat and seafood section, and wood accent.
Mr. Co added that the core of the renovated stores is the wellness section which features latest products geared towards healthy living reminiscent of milk alternatives, keto-friendly, sugar-free, and gluten-free products, noting the importance of customer experience.
“We do face some headwinds, different headwinds per banner. But supermarkets and drugstores? It’s a staple. People will buy. It’s a matter of what is going to [the] customers buy? Will they downgrade? In the event that they downgrade, we have now to be ready for them. We want to have what they’re in search of,” Mr. Co said.
One other branch in Bacolod is scheduled for completion in two weeks.
The Robinsons Supermarket currently has 157 branches nationwide, of which around 10% to fifteen% have been chosen for renovation based on location in keeping with Mr. Co. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel