Filipino retailer Golden ABC, Inc. (GABC), the company behind clothing brands such as Penshoppe and OXGN, has set aside P1 billion in capital expenditure (capex) this year to fund a pipeline of more than 100 new and renovated stores.

The expansion plan underscores renewed confidence in the Philippines' physical retail sector, which remains anchored by one of the most mall-dense retail environments in Southeast Asia even as e-commerce continues to grow. Philippine retail sales have been supported by a young population and resilient consumer spending, both key drivers of domestic demand in one of the region's faster-growing economies.

"We're very aggressive and very hopeful with our growth. We're gearing up about P1 billion in capex to really grow stores, to continue to expand the ones we have," GABC President and Chief Executive Officer Alice T. Liu told reporters on the sidelines of the 32nd National Retail Conference and Expo held last week.

The company plans to open over 100 stores this year — encompassing both new and refurbished outlets — across its six brands: Penshoppe, OXGN, Forme, Memo, Regatta, and BOCU.

Ms. Liu indicated that the majority of GABC's store pipeline for the year is concentrated in Metro Manila and the Greater Manila Area.

"We follow where the malls are opening," Ms. Liu said, pointing to upcoming developments such as SM Nuvali and the expanded Ayala Malls Nuvali (formerly Ayala Malls Solenad) in Laguna. The strategy aligns with the ongoing expansion of major Philippine mall developers SM Prime Holdings and Ayala Land, which continue to build new retail complexes in growing urban corridors outside the capital.

GABC is also piloting its in-store café concept, SIPP, which is currently available at its Penshoppe branches in SM Mall of Asia and EDSA Shangri-La Plaza, and has been introduced at several weekend markets.

The company launched SIPP earlier this year as part of a broader push toward experiential retail, designed to cater to Filipino consumers' preference for coffee, matcha, and ube drinks. The move comes as food and beverage increasingly anchors mall foot traffic in the Philippines, with café culture gaining traction among younger consumers.

"We're testing it. We're trying to see how we can serve and be part of that evolving lifestyle also of our customers," Ms. Liu said.

The retailer expects to surpass 1,000 total stores by year-end, according to Ms. Liu.

GABC is also preparing for international expansion. "For the international [market,] we're available online already, but for brick and mortar, we're still looking for the right partner," she said. Penshoppe has previously built a presence in markets across Southeast Asia and the Middle East through partnerships and e-commerce platforms.

Despite its ambitious expansion plans, GABC remains focused on the mass-market segment. "We believe in really democratizing fashion. Meaning, we want to make sure that Filipinos can look good with the budgets that they have in their pockets," Ms. Liu noted.

— Beatriz Marie D. Cruz