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Homegrown retail industry leader Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc. (MRSGI) recently opened a Super Metro Hypermarket in Calamba City, Laguna, further cementing the company’s foothold in Luzon.

The Cebu-based company, the largest retail store operator in the Visayas, now has 46 stores in key cities across the country, according to MRSGI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frank Gaisano. “This is our 20th store in Luzon, where we see a lot of opportunities for growth and expansion,” he added.

The Super Metro Hypermarket is a one-stop community store that offers customers the convenience of a supermarket and department store combined, providing customers with a wide selection of food and general merchandise at competitive prices. Super Metro also features ancillary stores to cater to shoppers’ needs. Among the anchor outlets are the company’s very own Suisse Cottage Bakeshop and Metro Pharmacy, and services such as foreign exchange facilities and bills payment centers to cater to customers’ diverse shopping requirements. “The hypermarket is also our fastest-growing format,” said Gaisano, highlighting that they have grown their hypermarket portfolio to 12 stores in just three years.

Aside from the hypermarket, Metro also has a one-hectare warehouse in Silangan, Calamba City. MRSGI President and Chief Operating Officer Arthur Emmanuel said they are happy to become part of the Calamba community, whose 400,000-population and strategic location in the Calabarzon region present strong growth opportunities.

More than just building stores, Super Metro also provides livelihood opportunities to communities wherein it operates. “We’re very glad to help support local development, with our warehouse and hypermarket now employing close to 400 Calamba residents,” Emmanuel further explained, noting that the company tries to hire majority of its employees from its host communities.

Calamba City Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco and Laguna Governor Ramil Hernandez both hailed the store opening as an important investment, which not only generates jobs but also promotes the city as a viable business destination.

Metro, the retail arm of Vicsal Development Corporation, has established footprint in key cities in the Visayas region, Central Luzon, National Capital Region, Calabarzon and Bicol region.

Positioning itself as the retail value innovator, it operates four different store formats— Metro Department Store, Metro Supermarket, Super Metro Hypermarket, and Metro Fresh ‘n Easy Neighborhood Store.