By Sun Star
THE brick-and-mortar store format will still be a breadwinner in the retail business amid the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic, said a top official of a Cebu-based retail giant.
Manuel Alberto, president and chief operating officer of the Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI), believes engaging with customers through physical retail is still an important factor for the group’s post-pandemic strategy.
“Not only in Cebu but throughout in the Philippines, the brick and mortar or the offline stores will still be the bread and butter. I think for the most part, the experience of shopping, touching the merchandise and interacting is still going to be the bread and butter of our business,” said Alberto, during the grand reopening press conference of Metro Ayala, Friday, Jan. 29, 2021.
Testament of the group’s confidence amid a weak business environment is its plan to open more brick-and-mortar stores this year.
“We will be opening a lot of stores this year still. We are focusing on opening supermarkets. We are focusing on underserved countryside markets. We are opening our reimagined compact department stores as well. (So) you can expect more Metro stores in 2021,” he said.
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