Daiso, Robinsons Retail to strengthen PH partnership

Daiso Industries Ltd. is impressed with the growth of the Daiso Japan store chain in the country.

Japan founder and President Hirotake Yano was recently in the country as one of the speakers of the 17th Asia-Pacific Retailers Convention and Exhibition (APRCE) Manila 2015.

He also met with officials of Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI), appointed franchisee in the Philippines of Daiso Industries. RRHI is led by Robina Gokongwei-Pe, Wilfred Co and Katherine Michelle Yu.

Yano added that he is very happy with the growth of Daiso Japan in the Philippines. “I first came here four years ago and observed that it was experiencing a very competitive growth, one that was comparable to Daiso in Japan.  I am actually quite proud of this development.”Yano reaffirmed the strong and exclusive partnership between the two companies as he expressed his satisfaction over the Supreme Court’s final ruling in June this year, preventing Japan Home Center (JHC) from using the trademark Daiso.  He reiterated that RRHI is Daiso’s only authorized and licensed partner in the Philippines. It will be recalled that Daiso Industries Co., Ltd filed a complaint with the Intellectual Property Office against Japan Home Center (JHC) in 2009.

There are now 44 Daiso Japan stores in the Philippines and over 2,400 stores in 30 countries around the world.

Both Yano and Gokongwei-Pe reiterated the strength of their business collaboration that was sealed in 2008. “I am very confident with the leadership of the Robinsons Group as our Daiso Industries’ exclusive retailer in the Philippines,” he said. “That is why I look forward for continued growth as customer demand increases.”

Gokongwei-Pe is likewise very optimistic about the expansion of the Daiso Japan brand. “We brought it here knowing that it is a big brand from Japan that offers good quality and affordable products. That, for me, is the best combination that is very much suited to the Philippine market. The items in our stores are the real Daiso merchandise from Japan.  There is a guarantee behind the name and the partnership that we have with Daiso Industries,” Gokongwei-Pe said.