MANILA, Philippines — Gokongwei-led Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI) announced that it will close all 11 standalone “No Brand” stores in the Philippines by the end of June 2026 as part of a strategic move to streamline its retail portfolio and focus on higher-performing formats.
In a disclosure, RRHI said the decision reflects changing consumer preferences and evolving shopping habits, prompting the company to align its store formats with customer demand.
“No Brand accounts for only about 0.2 percent of the company’s annual net sales and represents a very small portion of its overall assets,” RRHI President and CEO Stanley C. Co said, noting that the closure is not expected to materially affect the company’s financial performance.
The Korean grocery chain first entered the Philippine market in 2019 through a master franchise agreement between RRHI and South Korea’s Emart, offering private-label food and household items positioned as affordable alternatives to mainstream brands.
RRHI said the shutdown is part of broader efforts to simplify its business and concentrate on retail segments that deliver stronger and more sustainable returns. The retailer operates a wide network of stores nationwide, including supermarkets, convenience stores, specialty outlets, and drugstores.
As of end-2025, RRHI had more than 2,700 company-owned stores across the country, making the No Brand footprint only a small fraction of its total operations.
Analysts said the move may also reflect shifting consumer spending patterns, with shoppers prioritizing essential goods over discretionary items such as snacks and specialty products often sold by the Korean grocery chain.
Despite the closure, RRHI thanked its partner Emart for the collaboration over the past several years, emphasizing its continued commitment to meeting customer needs through more relevant retail formats.
