Robinsons Retail Philippines has announced it will add 200 stores, mostly convenience stores and supermarkets.

The boost in its retail chain will add to its existing 1506 stores.

For 2016, Robinsons Retail Holdings has earmarked P5 billion in capital spending, nearly 60 per cent higher than the P3.14 billion in 2015.

Robina  Gokongwei-Pe, president and COO of Robinsons Retail Holdings, said “2016 is expected to be a good year. With the national elections in May coupled with the rising purchasing power of consumers fuelled by low fuel prices, we expect same store sales growth to stay healthy for the whole of 2016,” Gokongwei-Pe said.

“We however, foresee competition to remain intense as more retailers are expanding aggressively in areas outside Metro Manila to cash in on the still low modern retail penetration in these areas,” she said.