"All the big things began from small beginnings," so a saying goes -- and Glorimart Trading Inc. started out just like that. Its conception and eventual realization to a supermarket chain as it is today, traced its roots -- from a shift in textile stall put up in the busy bosom of Divisoria, Manila to a grocery business starting with just one branch in the working class district of Del Monte Quezon City.
On September 21, 1972, GLORIMART Trading Incorporated gaited its first step onward to its highly priced pedestal today as leader and pioneer in 24 hour supermarket service in the Philippines. Simultaneous with its existence as a corporate entity was the formal opening of its first ever supermarket branch in comer Del Monte and G. Araneta Avenues in Quezon City.
Amidst a troubled and dim political milieu of the 70's, GLORI Supermarket sparked a glow of hope and triumph in the entrepreneurial horizon of the merchandising world.
Starting as replicas of the Variety Stores in the USA during the 70s and early 80s, GLORI Supermarkets are precursor of today's chain of convenient stores. But even before the mushrooming of convenience stores here in Manila and in nearby provinces, GLORI Supermarkets had already established itself as a name to reckon in this grocery retail business concept. As early as 1978, its visionary forerunners had already espoused branching strategies that were proven to have produced good results, edifying the supermarket's strength and corporate stature.
Thus, from its typical humble beginning with only one branch to boast, the years that follow saw the rapid growth of the GLORI Supermarket family. Embarking on an aggressive expansion program, one branch after another was being launched and added to its fold almost every year. All of which are products of devoted market research plan and its leaders gimlet eyes for attractive locations.
Six years after the opening of its initial branch in Del Monte (considered as the first supermarket northwest of Metro Manila), GLORI Supermarket Kamias Branch saw light and joined its vibrant fold. By late 1990's it already had established strong foothold as 9 branches has dotted strategic locations all over Metro Manila. And ushering the coming of the new millennium, it further extends its supermarket service area to the nearby province of Bulacan.
On May 1, 1994, GLORIMART Trading Incorporated clinched another first in the annals of supermarket history when it became the first supermarket of its kind to go on a 24 hour operation, piloted at its Tandang Sora Branch in Quezon City. Reaping good results and receiving commendations from customers and partners in business, it went to be applied in all its branches on June 30 of that same year.
However, on August 30, 2000, this parade of successes was partly eclipsed by the sudden stroke of fatte when GLORI Supermarket ROCES Branch (started on October 1987), was destroyed by a fire that gutted its edifice to total desolation, leaving it barely a skeleton.
Expectedly, it saddens the whole GLORI family, though it was not enough to dampen the force that made GLORI a glorious name in supermarket chains. The irony of it all is that, it made GLORI even more challenged and zealous in all its entrepreneurial endeavors. Thus, from the debris of the burned down Roces Branch just like a Phoenix that is being born anew from its own remains GLORI emerged, opened its wings, and soar ahead to more achievements and successes.
Barely a year after the incident, on March 23, 2001 it opened its newest branch in Brgy. Sumapa, McArthur Highway, Malolos, Bulacan. A clear proof of its optimism and positive outlook on the nature of retail and merchandising.
And holding firmly on to its long kept tradition of good and quality costumer service, residents and patrons in Bulacan can now boast of having GLORI Supermarket in their very midst. The Bulaqueños will become even happier and feel even more especial when Glorimart Trading Inc. will add yet another glorious adventure to its history the opening of its GLORI Supermarket Pulilan Branch in March 2003. Definitely, this occasion will be another feather to be added to its already colorful cape.
Through the years, from that humble textile stall in Divisoria, to its first supermarket branch in Del Monte, Glorimart Trading Inc. has no doubt carved its own niche in the merchandising world. Though it undergone some periods of slowing down and likewise not spared from mischief of fate, Glorimart Trading Inc. had successfully passed the tests of time.
Steadily, for 30 years now, it has maintained its position as one among the corporate top 500, making it to the fist of the elite companies in the Philippines. Continuing the forward looking visions of its forerunners, Glorimart Trading Inc. is gearing towards more triumph and victories in service to its loyal partners and patrons.
These feats can be attributed among others, to its holistic approach to management and business operations.
With a corporate culture founded on strong sense of right and wrong elicited from truly Christian values, it carryout business relations on a level based on straightforwardness and mutual respect.
And though it acknowledges the need to compete with others in this materialist business world, it adheres more to the belief that competition must be first fought against oneself that one must continue to better itself and continuously resetting goals as it is achieved a belief that grows out of the thinking that the world 's riches are unlimited and need not be fought over for.
It also adheres to the belief that it always needs one to take the first step, for it is only in risking that one can gain and it is in extending one's hand in service that one receives payment - this explains why GLO-RI Supermarket's byline, "In Service to the Community."
Likewise, Glorimart Trading Inc.'s fair dealings with its employees had gained to its side their loyalties and dedication. As much as management exacts total loyalty and commitment from its employees, it shares with them the fruits of its bounty as well. The reason why in an age where corporate commitment is transitory and where worker's loyalties are bought by the highest bidder, GLORI has managed to keep its employees within its fold, despite the baits of more lucrative offers from outside.
With its dynamic leadership and dedicated employees, Glorimart Trading Inc. will certainly remain a major driving force in the retail and merchandising industry.
Guided by its vision to be "the millennium retail
chain committed to serving the community with a shopping convenience 24 hours
a day," GLORI Supermarket will continue setting benchmark in this
industry truly a leader and pioneer in 24 hour supermarket service.
home | history | branches | vision | company profile
