‘Oasis of integrity in sea of corruption’

Shopwise’s fancy beverage container.

‘‘To be an oasis of integrity and quality in a sea of corruption and mediocrity.”

Thus was how Rustan Supercenters Inc. president Donnie V. Tantoco says his group sealed the deal with Dairy Farm International Group last May. Dairy Farm is a Singaporean conglomerate that’s into food distribution.

Donnie had lunch with a handful of journalists in Alabang to talk about the newly opened Shopwise branch in Imus, Cavite. It’s 13th. He then brought the group to tour the place which took only 20 minutes to reach.

Tantoco says they plan to open 12 outlets this year. In opening branches, he says they need to be ‘‘rationale.’’

The Imus branch, for one, is not big and its SKUs (store keeping units or items being sold in the place) are only less than 50,000.

He says based on their surveys, consumers do not like big stores anymore.

Tantoco says they set up Shopwise 15 years ago for working mothers.

Today it’s to create jobs.

Unique dining concepts

Tantoco boasts that they have an assistant vice-president who did not finish high school so the opportunities are there.

To get to know its consumers Tantoco says Shopwise managers spend a fifth of their time doing surveys.

The goal is always to make “aspiration affordable.”

“This is part of our thrust to continuously extend the hypermarket’s signature experience beyond the capital. Every Filipino shopper desires nothing but a good buy-quality finds at affordable prices, and this is what Shopwise gives them,” he adds.

The branch also features a diverse tenant mix including Pao Tsin, Fruitas, Tapa, Potdog, CD-R To Go, Eye-Q Optical, Razon’s, Belgian Waffles, Sandugo, Rose Pharmacy, and Salon de Rose; and introduces Caviteños to unique dining concepts via the Asian-inspired Mongolian Station and Fried Chicken Station that are located right inside the supermarket, for full-meal solutions that’s affordable, filling, and delicious.

The Imus branch is located at Aguinaldo Highway cor. Anabu-Kostal Road, Anabu, Imus, Cavite.

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