Philippine retail empire SM expands reach outside major cities

Group targets fast-growing middle class ahead of incoming foreign competition

20240305N SM

SM Group operates dozens of malls across the Philippines, including SM Mall of Asia in metro Manila. © Reuters

YUICHI SHIGA, Nikkei staff writer

MANILA -- The king of Philippine retail, SM Group, is building malls and updating logistics chains outside the biggest cities to tap the country's growing middle class in those areas.

"As economic growth happens more in the provincial areas, logistics [serve as] a key player for that growth," Frederic DyBuncio, president and CEO of flagship unit SM Investments, told Nikkei last month.

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