Rustan's Supermarket
Rustan's Supermarkets was established in 1970 by the Rustan Group.[19] In 1998, Shopwise hypermarket was launched under Rustan Supercenters, Inc. (RSI).[20] In 2006, the Rustan's supermarket chain (Rustan Supermarket, Inc.) was consolidated under RSI.[21]
In 2012, the Dairy Farm Group acquired 50% interest in RSI.[22] By 2017, the Dairy Farm Group acquired full ownership of RSI.[23][24]
On March 23, 2018, the Dairy Farm Group sold RSI to Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. (RRHI) through a stock swap. After the sale, the Dairy Farm Group owned 18.25% and 1.75% of RRHI (20.00% in total) through Mulgrave Corporation and GCH Investments respectively.[25][26] At the time of the sale, RSI operated Rustan's Supermarket, Marketplace by Rustan's, Shopwise, Shopwise Express and Wellcome (Philippines).[27]
On April 11, 2018, Zenaida R. Tantoco, chairperson and CEO of the Rustan Group of Companies clarified that the Rustan's trademark and trade name was "never a part of the business transaction between RRHI and Dairy Farm Group, legally or otherwise." Tantoco stated that Rustan Commercial Corporation (RCC) is the sole owner of the Rustan's trademark and trade name and the use by any third party requires the written consent of RCC. The statement clarified that after the buy-in of the Dairy Farm Group into RSI in 2012, RSI was granted use of the Rustan's trademark and trade name for a "limited period of five years commencing from the year 2012 and was terminated upon our written notice to the Dairy Farm Group on April 3, 2018."[28][29] The following day, RRHI issued a statement acknowledging the trademark license arrangement between RCC and RSI and should the trademark license of Rustan's be "validly terminated by RCC" such stores would be rebranded with "other premium brand alternatives."[30]
The sale of RSI to RRHI was approved by the Philippine Competition Commission on August 17, 2018[31] and the transaction was completed on November 21, 2018.[32] The rebranding of the Rustan's supermarket chain (Rustan's Supermarket and The Marketplace by Rustan's) to The Marketplace was completed by 2020 with some branches converted to Robinsons Supermarkets.
