SM Group executives count on brand names with popular recall such as Levi Strauss and Co. to expand its retail operations.
This was bared Wednesday by Teresita Sy-Coson, vice chair at SM Investments Corp. and chair of SM Retail., saying she is optimistic on the proposed expansion of operations of the denim jeans manufacturer in the Philippines.
“We see a lot of opportunity in further growing out retail portfolio and part of that growth is cultivating partnerships with leading brands such as Levi’s, which has been at the forefront of sustainable fashion and patronized for its quality and brand leadership,” Sy-Coson said.
Members of the Levi’s global leadership team and key members of the SM group, including the siblings Sy-Coson and Harley Sy, SMIC director, visited Levi’s stores at SM Mall of Asia, one of the brand’s biggest branches in the country, and its other branch at SM Makati.
The Levi’s team include Michelle Gass, company president and CEO; Chip Bergh, former CEO and current vice chairman; Harmit Singh, chief financial and growth officer; Nuholt Huisamen, managing director of East Asia Pacific; and Sameer Koul, general manager for Southeast Asia.
The visit is part of the brand’s global leadership tour of its markets in Asia as it reinforces its commitment to the region and explore the potential of growth markets, including the Philippines.
The visit also solidified the continued partnership between SM Group and LS&Co, as the Levi’s brand continues to achieve sustained growth in the Philippines, the companies said.
“The Philippines is an important market for Levi Strauss and Co., and a core piece of our international expansion strategy as we double down on our commitment to Asia,” Nuholt Huisamen, Levi Strauss and Co. senior vice president and managing director, East Asia Pacific, said.
“The Levi’s brand’s presence has deepened in the Philippines thanks to our partnership with key partners like the SM Group, who have strengthened our ability to reach out to our customers. As we continue to establish Levi’s® as a lifestyle apparel brand that delivers a wide range of apparel to meet the needs of our customers in the Philippines, we will continue to work with our partners to expand our footprint in the country and bring these products to them, right where they shop,” he said.
