Ayala opens doors to more global brands through ACX Retail

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala Corp. is expanding its consumer footprint with the launch of ACX Retail, a new platform that will bring more international brands to the Philippines through long-term strategic partnerships.

The conglomerate, through ACX Holdings Corp., said the platform would focus on introducing and growing global consumer brands in the local market as Filipino shoppers seek greater choice and differentiated retail experiences.

READ: BIZ BUZZ: Ayala gets a second wind in retailing

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Notably, ACX Retail builds on Ayala’s recent joint ventures with international brands, including Australia’s Anko, Thailand’s Makro and Dubai-based Spinneys.

Its latest addition is South Korean fashion brand Musinsa Standard, which is entering the Philippines through an exclusive distribution partnership between ACX Retail and Musinsa Co. Ltd.

Furthermore, Ayala said ACX Retail will be its dedicated platform for international fashion, lifestyle, and specialty brands.

“At ACX, our role is to help exceptional brands succeed in the Philippine market by combining their strengths with our understanding of local consumers, our retail capabilities and the reach of the Ayala ecosystem,” said Mark Uy, Ayala’s head of corporate strategy and business development.

At the same time, the company will carefully select partners and prioritize concepts with strong appeal to Filipino consumers and long-term relevance in the local market.

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Meawnhile, Rohit Kohti, chief retail officer of ACX Retail, said the platform will bring global concepts that respond to consumers’ growing demand for quality and differentiated experiences.

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Musinsa Standard’s Philippine expansion comes as Korean fashion gains traction among young Filipino consumers. In addition, the brand has expanded in South Korea, where its stores attract over 28 million visits annually.

Likewise, Park Junyoung, chief global officer at Musinsa, described the Philippines as a “strategically important market” with significant growth potential, citing strong interest in Korean fashion among younger consumers.

Ayala said ACX Retail would leverage the group’s local market expertise and ecosystem to become a long-term partner for international consumer companies expanding in the Philippines. INQ