Watsons opens 80 stores amid expansion outside NCR

MANILA, Philippines — Watsons Philippines opened 80 new stores in 2024, bringing its network to 1,166 as the health and beauty retailer aims to cater to more communities outside Metro Manila.

Watsons, which is part of the Sy family-led SM Group, said in a statement on Thursday that more than 50 of the newly opened stores were located in areas beyond the National Capital Region (NCR).

Some of the new branches were in key cities and towns in the Visayas and Mindanao, according to parent firm SM Investments Corp.

Neighborhoods

“Watsons is not only expanding in malls but is also committed to establishing a strong presence in local neighborhoods,” said Watsons customer director Jared de Guzman.

He added that community branches were the brand’s main growth driver.

READ: Watsons PH to open 90 more stores in 2025

De Guzman noted that, by the end of last year, Watsons had a total of 400 community stores across the country to ensure accessibility in less urbanized areas.

Watsons, which began in the Philippines as a joint venture between the SM Group and Hong Kong-based AS Watsons & Co. Ltd., also opened its 8,000th store across Asia and Europe at the Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay City last year.

“The Philippines has been selected for this momentous occasion because it’s one of the fastest-rising economies in Asia and a strategic market for AS Watson,” said Malina Ngai, CEO of AS Watson Group.

The MOA branch, which covers an area of about 900 square meters, is Watsons’ third flagship store in the country after those at SM North Edsa and SM Megamall.

Watsons currently operates in three formats—pharmacy (more than 1,000 stores), SM Beauty (76 stores) and LOOK (two stores). —Meg J. Adonis