Ayala bringing in another international retail brand

MANILA, Philippines — Conglomerate Ayala Corp. is stepping on the gas pedal in its retail drive as it negotiates a potential partnership with another international brand to further enhance its growing retail portfolio.

Ayala head of corporate strategy and business development Mark Robert Uy said the group is working to bring in another international retail brand to the Philippines.

“It’s not yet signed, but watch out,” Uy said, without disclosing further details.

“That’s really part of our goal of scouting for the best brands abroad and bringing them here, and then hopefully later on, we can also help local brands expand abroad,” he said.

Ayala in September last year announced a strategic business venture with Spinneys, a leading supermarket chain in the United Arab Emirates, to open stores in the Philippines.

Spinneys is poised to anchor key Ayala Malls with the opening of 12 stores across Metro Manila over the next four years.

Uy said Spinneys is targeting to open two stores before year-end – Ayala Malls UP Town Center in Quezon City and San Antonio Plaza Arcade in Makati.

The stores will offer differentiated and premium grocery retail that complements the broader mall experience.

Last year, Ayala also entered into a partnership with Thailand’s CP AXTRA to open Makro stores in the Philippines.

“For Makro, we hope to finish construction by year-end. Cloverleaf and Arca South, those two stores first,” Uy said.

Ayala has also entered into a collaboration with Kmart Australia Ltd. to bring home and lifestyle brand Anko to the Philippines. Anko opened of its first store in Glorietta 2, Makati in November 2024.

In just one year, it has opened five stores in Metro Manila, including Ayala Malls TriNoma, Alabang Town Center, Manila Bay and Feliz.

Ayala is bullish on growing Anko’s presence in the Philippines, with plans of doubling Anko’s network in the country to at least 10 stores this year to make its products accessible to more Filipinos.

Construction is ongoing for an Anko store in Gateway Mall 1 in Cubao, Quezon City. It will be Anko’s sixth branch in the country and its first non-Ayala mall branch.

Uy said of the five new Anko stores planned this year, two will open in non-Ayala malls.

“That tells you that we’re prepared to bring this to the outside ecosystem. It really depends on whether landlords will welcome us. Some are not so welcoming, but for those who are welcoming, then we’re prepared to work with them,” he said.

Uy said Anko has been doing very well so far, posting double-digit same-store sales growth compared to last year.

“I like to think that it’s quite instrumental in helping bring traffic to our malls as well, especially now that people are switching to value. So far, so good, so we’ll continue on this expansion that we’re doing,” he said.