The story, first reported by InsiderPH, has quickly made the rounds in entertainment and business circles, with some now wondering how the pairing could provide an unexpected boost to the Puregold retail empire given its newfound association with the admired actress.
Should business competitors be worried?
Tycoon Robina Gokongwei-Pe, chair of supermarket and specialty retail giant Robinsons Retail Holdings, is rarely one to back away from a challenge, or a feisty comeback.
She was ready with a response when InsiderPH playfully asked her about this high-profile match and what it means for her business.
“We should get a male [endorser]. You can say I want someone half my age,” she quipped.
Whether the joke was half-meant, Gokongwei-Pe clearly expects those around her to match her energetic drive when it comes to business.
Under her leadership, Robinsons Retail Holdings has grown into one of the country’s top retailers with over 2,400 stores and about P200 billion in annual revenues.
It operates supermarkets (Robinsons, The Marketplace, Shopwise, and No Brand), Toys “R” Us, drugstores, Uncle John’s convenience stores, pet stores, drugstores and even the lifestyle sneaker shop Sole Academy.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
