By Neil Jerome C.
Morales (The Philippine Star) | Updated June 30, 2014 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines All
Value Holdings Corp., led by former Sen. Manuel B. Villar Jr., is increasing
its exposure in the upbeat retail sector
in the next two years.
The private retail
holding firm of the Villar family will spend as much as P4.5 billion for 15 new
one-stop home improvement branches nationwide while also putting up more
convenience stores and department stores, its top executive said over the
weekend.
“The retail sector is
good because the middle class is growing. The gross domestic product also grows
well so it’s a good time [to expand],” said Villar.
“I see an explosion in
the retail industry and we want to be a part of it,” he said.
All Value, formerly MBV
Retail Holdings Corp., committed to open four AllHome branches (Taguig, Sta.
Rosa, Imus and Daang Hari) this year, four in 2015 and four to seven in 2016.
The retail firm is
spending around P300 million for each AllHome store, translating to an
investment ranging from P3.6 billion to P4.5 billion in the coming years.
Villar said the company
has identified 25 to 30 AllHome potential sites nationwide, with the rollout
depending on operations of existing stores. On Saturday, All Value opened
AllHome Taguig, its fifth branch.
Given its wide network
of housing projects nationwide, the company intends to open AllHome branches in
key cities like Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Iloilo, Villar said.
The Villar Group of
Companies, particularly through property firm Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc.,
has been dealing with Filipino consumers for the past three decades.
Vista Land is the
country’s largest and most geographically diverse builder of house and lots, so
far building 250,000 homes in 33 provinces and 65 cities and municipalities
nationwide.
“AllHome is a perfect
fit for Vista Land. This will address the cost and strengthen the logistics of
Vista Land,” Villar said, adding that AllHome would serve the needs of
contractors nationwide.
AllHome is a one-stop
shop for all housing needs. It caters to contractors, architects, interior
designers and homeowners by offering a wide range of products and services.
For other businesses in
the All Value group, Villar said convenience store chain All Day will reach 100
stores by end-2014 from 75 so far.
Villar said All Day
would be a “true Filipino convenience store” catering to local taste amid the
entry of foreign chains like 7-Eleven, Ministop, Lawson and FamilyMart that
have partnered with local companies.
All Value is also
putting up three new All Day department stores next year to add to the current
five branches, Villar said.
Villar said All Value
might list in the local bourse several years down the road when its operations
expand.
All Value is backed by
a P1 billion capital from the Villar family, with additional funds to be
sourced from bank loans, its top executive said.
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