Gaisano Family Opens Metro Store In Calbayog, Samar

Cebu-based Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI) opened on Friday its two-storey store in this city, the company’s first in Samar Island and the 15th hypermarket store in the country.

A retail concept store, Super Metro Calbayog offers the same quality of merchandise, friendly service, competitive and affordable to shoppers in Samar and Northern Samar provinces with that of Metro brands.

“Super Metro is your new one-stop community store carrying a wide assortment of products of the best prices. We have always aspired to make shopping quick, easy and convenient for our customer, thus we have decided to open Super Metro hypermart stores located in community close to our shoppers.” MRSGI chair and chief executive officer Frank Gaisano said in his message.

Gaisano added that aside from building stores, the retail giant also provided livelihood opportunities to communities wherein their stores operate, through “employment opportunities to local residents and giving solutions to daily basic needs at affordable prices.”

MRSGI hired at least 200 locals or 80 percent of Super Metro Calbayog workforce.

“For the past 32 years Metro has been given opportunities to our employees in building their career, there will be many employees in Calbayog that will have enough opportunities to enhance their career they choose to,” said MRSGI president and chief operating officer Arthur Emmanuel.

He also said that the company acknowledged the importance of its employees because without them, there would be no Metro store.

With Super Metro Calbayog, MRSGI has now 47 stores across the country, which include department stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets.

Metro Group has already established a good business relationship in the Visayas, Central Luzon, National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Bicol region.

Metro’s vision is to become a world-class retail store with the mission to provide quality environment, quality service, and to be responsive to customers’ need anchored on its philosophy of customer centeredness.

The firm’s retail activities typically range from supermarket operations, department store operations, appliances, fine jewelry and pharmacy.

In the meantime, MRSGI chief strategy and governance officer Jonathan Juan Moreno said that Metro considered Calbayog for their expansion project not only for the economic stand points, but as well on good governance.

“I look at Calbayog really as a city that is well ran. Calbayog has been known for its good governance and it was not very difficult for us when the business was made for us to make a decision to come here.” Morena said.

City Mayor Ronaldo Aquino expressed his gratitude to Metro family for bringing their store to the city.

“I can’t hardly find words to say, I couldn’t imagine that this is what Calbayog is today,” Aquino said.

“With Metro Group’s investment in the city, the people here will not only enjoy the luxury of the store but as well an opportunity for employment,” he added.

Under the city’s investment code, Super Metro Calbayog can enjoy a business tax moratorium in the next five years. This is one of the local government’s strategy to attract investors.

The Gaisano stores was established in 1949, when Doña Modesta Gaisano, together with her five sons, set up White Gold Department Store, acknowledged as the premiere retailer of post-war Cebu City.

Upon the demise of Doña Modesta in 1981, the Gaisano siblings moved on and pursued their respective business interests, according to the company’s website.

In 1982, second youngest son Victor Gaisano and his wife Sally, built the first Metro Gaisano Department Store and Supermarket in Colon, Cebu City. They started the business from very humble beginnings with their children, Margaret, Jack, Edward and Frank.

Today, Metro Retail Stores Group has transformed itself into a company encompassing multiple store formats: Metro Department Store, Metro Supermarket, Super Metro Hypermarket; and has grown into a company of over 9,000 employees with 47 stores serving the needs of over 250,000 shoppers a day. (PNA) RMA/SQM/JENNIFER S. ALLEGADO/EGR