Prince Hypermart
Prince Hypermart is a Philippine retail chain serving household consumers and small neighborhood-store operators across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Prince Hypermart is a Philippine retail store chain that developed from a warehouse-style operation in Cebu into a multi-island retailer. The business began in April 1990 under the name Prince Warehouse Club Incorporated, with Robert L. Go as chairman. Its first outlet occupied a converted plain warehouse in the North Reclamation Area of Cebu, now associated with the Prince Wholesale Center NRA. The original format operated with a single cash register and concentrated on practical, frequently purchased merchandise such as glassware, kitchenware, plasticware, and other household goods. The company expanded beyond its first location in 1993 when it opened a second branch in A.C. Cortes, Mandaue City. That location became Prince Hypermart Mandaue. The Mandaue operation was subsequently managed through a separate corporate entity, Prince Mandaue Chain of Stores, also identified as Prince Warehouse Club Mandaue Inc. This separation distinguishes the Mandaue business from the main Prince Warehouse Club organization while retaining the Prince retail identity. Prince's core proposition is a broad, value-oriented retail assortment that combines household shopping with wholesale-style purchasing. Its business has served both ordinary consumers and sari-sari store owners, the operators of small neighborhood convenience shops common in the Philippines. The company created the Prince Warehouse Club's Sari-Sari Store Society, or SSS, to support these small retailers. Through the program, participating sari-sari store owners could purchase merchandise at discounts and receive other benefits intended to help them develop their businesses. This initiative gave Prince a role not only as a consumer retailer but also as a supplier to small independent merchants. The chain initially built its presence in Cebu and then moved into surrounding towns and provinces in the Visayas. Its expansion reflected the increasing density of competing stores in Cebu, including the large Gaisano group, and the need to seek additional regional markets. In 2013, Prince entered Mindanao by opening its first branch in Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental. It later extended its Mindanao footprint into Zamboanga del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and other parts of Misamis Occidental. The same year, the company reported 24 stores and approximately 500,000 customers served per day, while also introducing ECPay electronic payment services in its branches nationwide. Prince continued expanding into additional Philippine provinces and eventually reached Luzon as well as maintaining its Visayas and Mindanao presence. A Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte branch opened on October 7, 2018. By the end of 2019, the company's expansion across the Visayas and Mindanao had involved more than one billion Philippine pesos of investment according to the referenced account, and the chain closed that year with 58 branches nationwide. Prince Hypermart is therefore best understood as a regional-to-national Philippine hypermarket and warehouse-club retailer whose growth has been driven by geographic expansion, value retailing, and a dual customer base of households and sari-sari store operators.
History
Prince Hypermart traces its origins to Prince Warehouse Club Incorporated, which began operations in April 1990. Robert L. Go served as chairman at the time of establishment. The first outlet was created by converting a plain warehouse in Cebu's North Reclamation Area into a retail store. With only one cash register, the early business focused on straightforward household merchandise, including glassware, kitchenware, plasticware, and related goods. The present-day site is associated with the Prince Wholesale Center NRA. The company added a second location in 1993 in A.C. Cortes, Mandaue City. This branch became known as Prince Hypermart Mandaue. Its operations were later placed under Prince Mandaue Chain of Stores, also called Prince Warehouse Club Mandaue Inc., a separate entity from Prince Warehouse Club Incorporated. A member of Robert Go's family served as the Mandaue operation's managing supervisor, according to the referenced account. After establishing a base in Cebu, Prince expanded into nearby towns and provinces in the Visayas. The chain's development occurred in a competitive Philippine retail environment that included Gaisano and other large regional operators. As Cebu became increasingly saturated with stores, Prince sought growth outside the province. Its expansion model combined broad merchandise selection with warehouse-club purchasing, allowing the retailer to serve household shoppers while also supplying small independent merchants. A notable element of the company's business development was the Prince Warehouse Club's Sari-Sari Store Society, commonly abbreviated as SSS. The program was designed for sari-sari store owners and gave members access to discounts and other benefits when purchasing goods from Prince Hypermart. It positioned the retailer as a partner to neighborhood-store operators, whose purchases could support both their own inventories and Prince's sales volume. Prince entered Mindanao in 2013 with a branch in Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental. The company subsequently expanded into several Mindanao provinces, including Zamboanga del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and additional areas of Misamis Occidental. In the same year, the business was reported to have 24 stores and to serve approximately 500,000 customers daily. It also introduced ECPay electronic payment services across its nationwide branches. The chain continued to add stores in the provinces and eventually extended its operations to Luzon. A branch in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte opened on October 7, 2018. By 2019, its expansion in the Visayas and Mindanao was reported to have required more than one billion Philippine pesos in investment. Prince ended that year with 58 branches nationwide. The available reference material does not establish a later store count, a current corporate headquarters, a public listing, or a formal parent company. Prince Hypermart is consequently documented here as a Philippine retail chain whose known historical growth proceeded from a single Cebu warehouse conversion to a multi-region network serving consumers and sari-sari store businesses.
- 2019
Network reaches 58 branches
[1]The company ended 2019 with 58 branches nationwide after investing more than one billion Philippine pesos in expansion across the Visayas and Mindanao, according to the reference account.
- 2018
Kapatagan branch opens
[1]Prince Hypermart opened a branch in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, on October 7.
- 2013
Entry into Mindanao
[1]Prince opened its first Mindanao branch in Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental and subsequently expanded into several provinces in the region.
- 2013
ECPay is introduced
[1]The chain introduced ECPay electronic payment services to its branches nationwide.
- 1993
Second branch opens in Mandaue City
[1]The company expanded to A.C. Cortes, Mandaue City, with a store that became known as Prince Hypermart Mandaue.
- 1990
Prince Warehouse Club begins operations
[1]Prince Warehouse Club Incorporated started in April 1990 under chairman Robert L. Go, operating from a converted warehouse in Cebu's North Reclamation Area.
Products and positioning
A Philippine value retailer and warehouse-club-style chain offering household merchandise and consumer goods to both everyday shoppers and small sari-sari store operators, with an emphasis on regional accessibility and discounted purchasing.
Household retail · 1990
Household merchandise
Prince Hypermart began with practical household merchandise such as glassware, kitchenware, plasticware, and related goods. These products reflect the chain's warehouse-style origins and its focus on useful, frequently purchased items for domestic consumers.
General merchandise
General consumer goods
The chain's general retail assortment serves everyday shoppers across its Philippine branches. The available reference material describes the business broadly as a hypermarket and warehouse-club retailer, but does not provide a complete current category list.
Retailer support program
Sari-Sari Store Society
The Sari-Sari Store Society was created for owners of small neighborhood stores. Members could purchase goods from Prince Hypermart with discounts and other benefits, helping them replenish inventory while strengthening Prince's relationship with independent retailers.
Electronic payment service · 2013
ECPay
ECPay was introduced in Prince branches in 2013 as an electronic payment service. The reference material identifies its nationwide introduction but does not detail the full service scope or its current availability.
Marketing campaigns
- Sari-Sari Store Society
Philippines
Prince created the Sari-Sari Store Society to support sari-sari store owners through discounted purchasing and member benefits.
Outcome. The program became a channel through which small-store operators could buy merchandise and seek support for business growth; the source does not provide quantified results.
Brand decisions
2018
Continue provincial expansionStrategyBackground
Prince continued extending its presence beyond its Cebu origins and established markets in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Action taken
The company opened a Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte branch on October 7, 2018.
Aftermath
The opening contributed to the chain's continuing regional expansion before it reached 58 branches in 2019.
2013
Expand from the Visayas into MindanaoStrategyBackground
Prince had expanded around Cebu and nearby Visayan markets while facing a more saturated local retail environment.
Action taken
The company opened its first Mindanao branch in Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental, and then added stores in multiple Mindanao provinces.
Aftermath
The expansion broadened Prince's geographic footprint and preceded further growth across Mindanao and, later, Luzon.
2013
Introduce ECPay electronic paymentsProduct launchBackground
As the chain expanded its national branch network, it added an electronic payment capability.
Action taken
ECPay services were introduced in Prince branches nationwide.
Aftermath
The reference confirms the service's introduction but does not document later adoption or performance.
Recent events
- 2019
Prince Hypermart reaches 58 branches[1]
Other
Following expansion across the Visayas and Mindanao and into other Philippine regions, Prince Hypermart ended 2019 with 58 nationwide branches.
- 2018
Prince Hypermart opens Kapatagan branch[1]
Other
A Prince Hypermart branch opened in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, on October 7, 2018.
- 2013
Prince Hypermart expands into Mindanao with Oroquieta branch[1]
Other
Prince Hypermart opened its first Mindanao branch in Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental, beginning a wider expansion into provinces across Mindanao.
- 2013
Prince Hypermart introduces ECPay services[1]
Product launch
The chain introduced ECPay electronic payment services in its branches nationwide as it expanded its retail network.
Sources1 sources
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