ABC-Mart Plans September 2025 Philippine Debut With Two Store Formats in BGC

Two Store Formats Set for Bonifacio Global City

ABC-Mart plans to enter the Philippines as early as September 2025, opening its flagship Grand Stage and Standard stores in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Manila, through a partnership with SONAK Retail Group. The Japanese footwear retailer is preparing a Grand Stage store covering more than 750 square meters across two floors, bringing its premium sneaker concept to one of the country's major shopping destinations.

The Philippines will become ABC-Mart's second Southeast Asian market after Vietnam, where it opened its first store in 2022. The expansion will give Filipino shoppers a local destination for the retailer's selection of international footwear, casual clothing and special releases.

ABC-Mart's two formats are intended to serve different shopping needs. Grand Stage will focus on premium products, exclusive sneakers and collections selected for enthusiasts. Standard will carry a wider range of everyday shoes and casual wear at competitive prices. Together, they will address both shoppers looking for a particular release and those seeking footwear for regular use.

As of July 30, 2025, the opening is scheduled for as early as September, with no exact opening day given. The partnership also envisages additional stores in key Philippine cities beyond Metro Manila in the coming years.

The launch brings together a retailer with more than 1,500 stores worldwide and a Philippine partner operating more than 40 stores nationwide. It also reflects a wider push by Japanese businesses to find customers overseas as growth at home slows.

Why the Philippines Appeals to ABC-Mart

The Philippines offers ABC-Mart a population exceeding 110 million, a median age of just 25 and a rapidly growing middle class. Those features make the country attractive to retailers seeking younger customers with an interest in international fashion.

Filipino enthusiasm for streetwear and sneakers is central to the company's expectations. Streetwear combines casual clothing and footwear with fashion trends, making shoes an important part of how customers put together an outfit. ABC-Mart's mix of sneakers, casual footwear and apparel fits that demand.

Travel between the Philippines and Japan has already introduced many Filipino shoppers to ABC-Mart. Visitors return with purchases and recommendations, giving the retailer recognition before its first Philippine stores open. A local presence will allow customers to shop without making a trip abroad.

The retailer's brand selection includes Nike, Adidas, ASICS, Puma, New Balance, Skechers, Timberland, Vans, Crocs and Salomon, among others. Its Philippine arrival promises access to global footwear trends, special collaborations and releases within a retail setting modeled on its stores in Japan and other markets.

Anil Buxani, chief executive officer of SONAK Retail Group, linked the timing of the launch to Filipino interest in streetwear:

Filipinos' affinity for streetwear fashion makes this the perfect time for the much-loved ABC-Mart to usher in a new era of retail excitement in the country.

For shoppers, the immediate change will be another place to compare international brands in person. The partners expect the launch to bring a distinctive shopping experience and raise expectations for footwear retail in the Philippines.

From a Trading Company to a Regional Chain

ABC-Mart began in 1985 as Kokusai Boeki Shoji Inc., a trading company specializing in importing and selling shoes and apparel. Over the following decades, it developed into one of Asia's largest footwear retailers, with more than 1,500 stores worldwide.

South Korea and Taiwan were early destinations for its expansion outside Japan. ABC-Mart found commercial success there by responding to local tastes while retaining the Japanese retail experience associated with its stores. That approach now informs its move deeper into Southeast Asia.

Vietnam became the starting point for the company's Southeast Asian strategy in 2022. Like the Philippines, it has a young population and growing demand for international brands. ABC-Mart's success there provided a model for entering another market in the region.

Kiichiro Hattori, vice president of ABC-Mart, described the Philippine entry as part of the company's regional expansion:

Our entry into the Philippines is part of our strategic expansion plan in Southeast Asia. We're eager to bring our distinct retail experience and curated brand assortment to the style-conscious Filipino shopper.

The company's development and Philippine launch plans span four decades:

• 1985: ABC-Mart began as Kokusai Boeki Shoji Inc., importing and selling shoes and apparel.
• 2022: The retailer opened its first store in Vietnam, starting its expansion into Southeast Asia.
• July 30, 2025: The Philippine entry plans included Grand Stage and Standard stores in BGC through SONAK Retail Group.
• As early as September 2025: The Philippine stores are scheduled to open.

What Grand Stage and Standard Will Offer

The planned Grand Stage store in BGC will occupy more than 750 square meters over two floors, making it one of the largest specialty footwear stores in the Philippines. Its premium format is aimed at customers seeking selected collections and products beyond everyday footwear.

Grand Stage is designed around exclusive sneakers, releases produced in limited quantities and leading products from global brands. For sneaker enthusiasts, the appeal lies in finding particular designs, collaborations and collections within a single specialist store.

The Grand Stage concept will focus on:

• Exclusive sneaker releases and editions available in limited quantities.
• Premium products from international footwear brands.
• Carefully selected collections aimed at sneaker enthusiasts.

ABC-Mart Standard will serve a broader audience, with everyday footwear and casual clothing at competitive prices. Its role is to make the retailer relevant to regular purchases as well as special releases.

The two formats give ABC-Mart a way to address different budgets and reasons for shopping. A customer looking for a premium sneaker collection and another looking for a dependable pair for daily use will have different priorities, even when both are buying from the same retail group.

Filipino customers can also expect a Japanese retail environment, frequent promotions and access to current global styles. The company intends the local experience to reflect what it offers in Japan and its other markets.

SONAK Brings an Established Philippine Network

SONAK Retail Group is entering the venture with more than 40 stores across the Philippines and experience representing international sport, lifestyle and fashion brands. Its portfolio includes Onitsuka Tiger and ASICS, giving it an existing position in the country's footwear market.

The joint venture combines ABC-Mart's brand assortment and store concepts with SONAK's knowledge of local customers. That knowledge is expected to help shape product choices around Filipino tastes while supporting the practical work of opening and operating stores.

ABC-Mart gains an established retail partner and local infrastructure. SONAK adds one of Asia's most recognized footwear retailers to its portfolio. Industry observers view those complementary strengths as an advantage for both businesses.

The partners expect the collaboration to accelerate expansion beyond the initial BGC openings. Their plans include additional stores in key cities outside Metro Manila in the coming years, extending the potential customer base beyond the capital region.

The local partnership also matters because international retailers entering Southeast Asia must navigate regulations, import requirements and differences in shopping habits. SONAK's existing operations give ABC-Mart experience to draw on as it adapts its business to the Philippines.

Stores Enter a Competitive Retail Market

Southeast Asia's fashion retail sector is attracting international brands as consumer spending rises and demand for global styles grows. ABC-Mart's Philippine launch is part of that competition for shoppers, store locations and attention.

Pomelo is among the other fashion brands entering the Philippines through local retail partnerships. Such arrangements pair an international brand with a company that already understands the market, an approach also central to ABC-Mart's agreement with SONAK.

Digital shopping adds another layer of competition. Nike's official app has launched in Southeast Asia, giving customers personalized access to products and exclusive releases. Customers can discover footwear and make purchases through a phone as well as in a physical store.

That shift makes the store experience an important part of ABC-Mart's proposition. Its Grand Stage format is intended to offer an environment built around selected products and specialist collections, giving customers a reason to visit even as more shopping moves online.

International expansion also comes with regulatory risks. Temu faced bans in Indonesia and Vietnam over concerns involving cheap imports and regulatory compliance. Those cases illustrate the importance of meeting local requirements and adapting operations to each market.

ABC-Mart's challenge will be to combine its international identity with products and service that suit Filipino customers. Its experience in South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam provides a record of adapting its business outside Japan.

Sales Growth Supports the Expansion

ABC-Mart reported revenue of 97.7 billion yen in the first quarter of its fiscal year ending February 2026, an increase of 1.5% from the same period a year earlier. Its recent performance has been supported by the expansion of Grand Stage and other store formats.

Net profit fell by 1.2% during the quarter, even as revenue increased. The figures show sales and profit moving in different directions: revenue measures the money brought in through business activity, while net profit is what remains after expenses and other charges.

June sales at comparable stores rose by 6.2%, marking four consecutive months of growth. Comparable store sales track performance at existing locations, helping show how those stores are doing without relying on the effect of adding new outlets.

Strong sales of seasonal products and successful promotional campaigns contributed to that momentum. The figures provide a picture of a retailer still increasing sales as it prepares to enter another national market.

Industry analysts view the Southeast Asian expansion as a response to saturation in Japan and South Korea, where growth has plateaued. Entering markets such as the Philippines gives ABC-Mart another route to growth over the longer term and a broader base of customers amid changing global retail trends.

The Philippine launch therefore serves two purposes: it brings the retailer closer to consumers already familiar with its Japanese stores, and it extends the business into a market with a young population and growing demand for international brands.

Japanese Retailers Look Beyond Their Home Market

ABC-Mart's plans sit within a wider movement by Japanese companies to expand overseas. A recent Nikkei survey found that nearly half of top Japanese business leaders were looking toward international markets, including the United States and Southeast Asia, as domestic growth slowed.

For retailers, expansion abroad offers access to new groups of consumers and spreads revenue across more markets. ABC-Mart's move from Vietnam into the Philippines follows that approach, building its Southeast Asian presence one market at a time.

Japanese brands have developed a reputation for quality, innovation and customer service. Those qualities appeal to Southeast Asian consumers, while interest in Japanese food, fashion, entertainment and design also supports familiarity with the country's businesses.

ABC-Mart must preserve the identity that customers recognize while adjusting to local preferences. Its record in South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam suggests experience with that balance, although the Philippine stores will need to establish their own place among existing retailers.

The launch also signals confidence in Philippine retail and lifestyle spending. The partners are committing to two store formats at the outset, giving the business a presence in both premium sneaker shopping and the broader market for everyday footwear.

What the Launch Could Change for Shoppers

Filipino shoppers are expected to gain more choice when ABC-Mart opens, including footwear from global and Japanese brands, special collaborations and releases not previously available locally. Customers familiar with the retailer through travel will have a domestic alternative to shopping at its overseas stores.

Greater competition is expected to benefit consumers through wider selections and more competitive pricing. ABC-Mart's plans also include frequent promotions, giving shoppers another retailer to compare when deciding where to buy.

The combination of Grand Stage and Standard will allow the company to compete for both sneaker enthusiasts and customers focused on quality and value. The premium store will concentrate on selected products and exclusive releases, while Standard will address more routine footwear and clothing purchases.

Further openings beyond Metro Manila could bring that selection to more Philippine cities. The initial BGC stores will establish the brand's local presence before that wider expansion takes shape.

ABC-Mart's arrival is also expected to encourage other international brands to enter or expand in the Philippines. For consumers, the practical result would be a broader range of retailers and products. For the companies already operating in the country, another major footwear chain means stronger competition for customers.

Key Points

• ABC-Mart plans to open Grand Stage and Standard stores in BGC, Manila, as early as September 2025.
• The Grand Stage store will cover more than 750 square meters across two floors and focus on premium footwear, exclusive releases and selected collections.
• The Philippines will be its second Southeast Asian market after Vietnam, which it entered in 2022.
• Local partner SONAK Retail Group operates more than 40 stores nationwide and represents brands including Onitsuka Tiger and ASICS.
• ABC-Mart reported quarterly revenue of 97.7 billion yen, up 1.5%, while net profit fell 1.2%. June comparable store sales rose 6.2%.
• The partnership plans further Philippine stores beyond Metro Manila, with greater choice and stronger footwear retail competition expected for shoppers.