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The SM Group announced recently that they will be opening up to 20 new stores in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces this year for their food retail unit. The company said it will be investing P1 billion to P2 billion for these projects.

The new outlets are targeted to bring Save More, SM Hypermarkets and Supermarkets closer to the public. Retail group executive vice president Robert Kwee said they wanted to be closer to the customers. He added they will not open new Makro outlets this year, and that they will converting some Makro stores into Save More outlets too. Kwee said they will converting the Makro outlets which have not been performing well.

As for Watson’s and SM Beauty, they are expected to grow by eight percent this year. For 2009, they posted a seven percent growth. “We are growing faster than the industry,” said Robert U. Sun, chief operating officer of Watsons Your Personal Store, Phils.

According to sun, 65 percent of the revenue of SM Beauty and Watson’s came from beauty while the remaining 35 percent came from health, but quickly added the health sector is growing faster that the beauty sector.

Sun explained that even during the financial crisis, people were still buying beauty products. People sometimes opted to buy the cheaper brands, or choose smaller packages, but the demand remained. He also expected their operating outlets to reach 245 by yearend. He said they also will be renovating six to ten outlets this year, which are estimated to cost P80 million.

Recently, the Beauty Experts Behind the Scene was launched at the Scene at the SM Makati Department Store. It was the official launch of Beauty by SM’s flagship store.

“The launch of Beauty by SM’s flagship store at SM Makati signals a new era,” said Robert Sun. “We now take Beauty to the next level. We have lined up many more stores to be renovated to ensure that we are able to provide our customers a unique shopping experience. I am proud to say that we are well on our way to making our vision to be the preferred beauty destination a reality.”