Eureka News | NRCE 2023 Sets New Industry Standards for Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) | via PRA Newsletter by Maya Sangil | Manila – The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), the main national organization representing retailers, suppliers, and shopping centers across the Philippines, has once again confirmed its place as a trailblazer in the retail sector. This development comes on the heels of the PRA’s recognition as the “Retailer of the Year” for 2017. PRA’s flagship event, the National Retail Conference and Expo (NRCE) 2023, was held on August 10-11, 2023 at the SMX Convention Center in Manila, marking a historic stride forward and ushering in a new era of innovation and collaboration.
In its 29th year, NRCE 2023 stood as a remarkable testament of PRA’s unwavering commitment to fostering growth and excellence within the retail landscape. The event was led by the dynamic leadership of its newly-elected President, Roberto Claudio Sr., Chairman Emeritus of Quorum Holdings Corporation, and was guided by the visionary guidance of NRCE Overall Chairman, President of Rustan Commercial Corp.
NRCE 2023 was distinguished by its extraordinary magnitude and influence, and it featured an exceptional roster of visionary leaders, industry captains, and luminaries who shared their invaluable insights and strategic foresight with the attendees.
The nearly one thousand people who attended the conference were provided with a meaningful and practical roadmap to success, which enabled them to thrive in a market that is constantly evolving and to achieve global competitiveness. At the same time, the expo showcased the work of 87 different exhibitors across an extended layout that, for this year’s event, spanned three separate function rooms. Over three thousand people attended the expo that was held this year, all of whom were excited to learn more about the cutting-edge retail solutions and technologies that were on display.
The event was graced by a constellation of stars, including Mariana Zobel de Ayala, Director of Ayala Land Inc., who delivered an enthralling opening keynote, and Joseph Tanbuntiong, Chief Business Officer of Jollibee Foods Corporation, who delivered an enthralling closing keynote. Both keynote speakers were engaging. Eminent figures such as Christopher Maglanoc, President of Ayala Malls, Graham Coates, First Vice President and Head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, Faraday Go, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Robinsons Malls, and Steven Tan, President of SM Supermalls, participated in a forward-looking panel discussion that envisioned the future of retail. Other notable speakers included Faraday Go, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Robinsons Malls.
The presence of crucial speakers who were able to resonate with the ethos of the participating firms was essential to the event’s success. There were a total of 27 thought leaders present at the conference. Some of those thought leaders included Herve Bullot, who is the Marketing Director of Levi’s Strauss & Co. – East Asia Pacific; Jake Yrastorza, who is the Managing Partner of Gigil; and Pauline Fermin, who is the President & CEO of Acumen Strategy Consultants. All of these individuals contributed significantly to the depth of the conference with their profound industry insights.
“Our commitment to serving the retail industry propels us to create platforms that genuinely address its evolving needs,” stated the President of the PRA, Claudio. A transformative program has been developed as a result of the joint efforts of the NRCE 2023 organizing committee. This program equips merchants with the knowledge and resources necessary to stimulate growth inside their own businesses.
The continuous support of the following distinguished sponsors made it possible for the 29th National Rural Communications Expo to be a spectacular success: (Diamond) Relex Solutions, The SM Store, (Platinum) ETP International PTE LTD, Wilcon Depot, Anchanto, Globe Business, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, PLDT Enterprise, Ayala Malls, Converge Business, Unilab, (Gold) Gateway Mall 2, Robinsons Malls, (Diamond) Relex Solutions, The SM Store, (Platinum) ETP International PTE LTD, Anchanto, Globe Business, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, (Silver) Security Bank, Bench, Bayer Philippines, SM Supermalls, (Official Partners) Retailgate Technologies, Vasavah Consultancy, The Philippine Star, The Manila Times, BusinessWorld, Philippine Daily Inquirer, (Media Partners) DOOH, Mediacast Digital Group, (Radio Partner) Wish 107.5, (Gold) Retailgate Technologies, Vasavah Consultancy, The Philippine Star, The Manila Times, BusinessWorld, Philippine Daily Inquirer, (Media Partners) DO UnionBank of the Philippines, Entrego, Unicommerce, CMG Retail Inc., Shangri-la Plaza, E-cloud Valley, Inewvation International Corp., Avolution, Inc., Mercury Drug, Primer Group of Companies, Rich Graphix Brand, Sportshouse, and Heritage Multi-Office Products are the organizations that have generously supported this event as sponsors.
NRCE 2023 was a pivotal event that served as a juncture at which the Philippine Retailers Association took the sector to new horizons, further solidifying its position as a leader at the forefront of progress. The impact of the event is expected to reverberate throughout the retail sector, igniting a desire for expansion, creativity, and harmonic collaboration among many stakeholders.
