Grand Union Supermarket, Inc (Grand Union), the owner of the South Supermarket chain, has tapped the First Gen Group (First Gen) for the construction and operation of solar carports in two of Grand Union’s supermarket branches in Bulacan and Laguna.
First Gen completed construction of the projects—the first solar carports undertaken by First Gen from the ground-up—and energized them late in May 2026, or roughly a year after First Gen commenced construction and a year and a half after both companies signed an agreement for the projects in January 2025.
“We are pleased to note that our solar installations in the South Supermarket branches have been yielding cost savings, helping rationalize their operating budgets, and making their operations more environmentally sustainable for the communities they serve. We are committed to support Grand Union in rolling-out energy solutions across the rest of their supermarket chain,” said Mark Malabanan, First Gen Energy Solutions, Inc., vice president for solar and commercial business development.
Located in the parking lots of the South Supermarket branches in Malolos, Bulacan, and Los Baños, Laguna, the projects, entailed the installation of more than 1,600 photovoltaic (PV) panels with a 1-megawatt-peak combined capacity.
Initial data indicated that usage of solar power at both South Supermarket branches could avoid an estimated 527 tons of carbon emissions from electricity consumption, equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide being absorbed by more than 24,200 trees in a year.
South Supermarket’s management has also noted a reduction in electricity costs, most evident during peak solar generation periods in the daytime, which aligns with its business hours. The cost savings will in turn enable the supermarket chain to offer customers better deals and improve shopping experience.
Established in 1967 as an independent, family-owned supermarket corporation, Grand Union owns and operates 13 South Supermarket branches nationwide, positioning itself as the “home of good food” and offering a curated assortment of fresh food alongside groceries and other household items.
First Gen, the largest renewable energy producer in the Philippines, has a diverse portfolio of 31 facilities that generate electricity from solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy.
Aside from producing renewable energy, the First Gen Group also supports businesses with solutions to rationalize their energy consumption. These solutions include on-site solar PV facilities, remote energy monitoring systems and energy audits.
