Islands Group plans aggressive expansion in 2015

CEBU, Philippines – The Islands Group of Companies plans to embark on an aggressive expansion next year.

Islands Group president and chief executive officer Jay Jonathan P. Aldeguer said that although the company has already achieved a strong foothold in tourism-anchored businesses in the country, still there is a need to reinforce its presence as the robust growth of the sector has already attracted interest from foreign capitalists.

Islands Group manages iconic tourism-related brands such as Islands Souvenirs chain of stores, Islands Pasalubong, Islands Stay and Islands Banca Cruise.

For flagship subsidiary Islands Souvenirs, the company will add more stores next year, to add up to its 108 existing branches nationwide.

"This year we added 14 more outlets in six new destinations including General Santos, Coron in Palawan, Cagayan de Oro, Dipolog, Butuan, Bacolod and Iloilo," Aldeguer said adding that more stores will be opened next year including the opening branches in Laoag and Zamboanga City by the first quarter.

For Islands Pasalubong stores, Aldeguer said the brand will start to make presence in other cities and destinations in the country, bringing off its thrust to help the delicacy makers and fruit vendors and other micro-entrepreneurs  in every destination.

Another four Islands Pasalubong centers will be opened next year. To date, there are seven Islands pasalubong centers spread in key cities and destinations.

"We will add at least four more Islands Pasalubong Centers in Luzon by first half of next year including one in Quezon City, two in Makati City and one in Alabang City," he said.

He added that in Cebu they will also add at least five more next year.

The expansion of each branch will cost the company around P8 million to P10 million.

Likewise, its hotel arm Islands Stay is also working on another aggressive expansion, however he refused to divulge details on the hotel brand’s plan.

Meanwhile, with overwhelming market response from the buyers following the introduction of its  Pinoy Deli section,  Aldeguer said they will be spinning off the brand and will open the first Islands Pinoy Deli at the Banilad  Town Center Cebu by January next year.

He said that the outlet will feature the same products that they have in the deli section in their Islands Pasalubong Centers like sapin-sapin, maja blanca and biko.

"Tourism is always there, no matter what. Even the international conglomerates have one foot in the tourism [already]," Aldeguer concluded.