Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc. (MRSGI) recorded PhP8.90 billion in net sales for the first quarter of 2025, a 2 percent increase from PhP8.73 billion for the same period in 2024.
MRSGI said this underscores contributions from the company’s expansion initiatives and the steady growth of its food retail (+1.8%) and general merchandise (+2.5%) businesses. Meanwhile, same-store sales in 1Q 2025 was slightly lower by 1.7 percent versus 2024.
Blended gross margin grew by 4.4 percent to PhP1.90 billion, attributed to a higher share to business of general merchandise business as well as margin gains from food retail. Gross margin as a percentage of sales also improved to 21.3 percent from 20.8 percent in 2024.
While the company continued implementing its cost reduction and saving measures, operating expense-to-sales ratio increased to 22.6 percent in 1Q 2025 from 20.4 percent in 2024 mainly due to higher utilities costs from power rate hikes especially in the Visayas region and manpower costs related to government mandated minimum wage increases.
In terms of cash earnings (as measured by EBITDA), MRSGI achieved a solid 6.1 percent growth reaching PhP413.0 million in the first quarter of 2025 from PhP389.2 million in the same period last year.
However, due to non-cash charges related to the Company’s ongoing expansion program, net income for the first quarter in 2025 was PhP13.4 million, a 73.4 percent drop from PhP50.3 million in the prior year.
In April, MRSGI’s total store network grew to 72 stores with the opening of a Metro Value Mart in Talisay City, Cebu.
“Through 2025, MRSGI will continue to elevate customer experience, focus on optimizing our operations, and strategically expand our network to further strengthen our market position and deliver sustainable growth,” said newly appointed MRSGI President and COO Joselito G. Orense.
To date, Metro Retail operates a total of 72 branches across Luzon and the Visayas under the store formats Metro Supermarket, Metro Department Store, Super Metro Hypermarket, Metro Value Mart, and Metro Home and Lifestyle. In line with its commitment to sustainable growth, MRSGI continues to aggressively expand its retail network.
