Giant to shut Toa Payoh supermarket in September, ninth closure in 2024

SINGAPORE: Supermarket chain Giant will close its ninth store in Singapore by September 2024 as it faces intense competition from online retailers and other grocery chains.

The store, located in Toa Payoh Lorong 4, is the latest in a series of closures that have taken place this year, as reported by The Straits Times.

Since February, Giant has shut down a hypermarket in Sembawang Shopping Centre, supermarkets in Bishan, Ang Mo Kio, and Bukit Panjang, along with four smaller “Express” stores in Nanyang Technological University, Pasir Ris, Redhill, and Punggol.

Following the closure of the Toa Payoh outlet, Giant will operate 45 stores across Singapore, down from 53 earlier this year.

Despite these reductions, the grocer has also opened a new outlet in Tengah in 2024.

From 2020 to 2023, the number of Giant stores in Singapore remained relatively stable, hovering between 53 and 55.

However, the recent closures highlight broader challenges faced by its parent company, Hong Kong-based Dairy Farm International (DFI), which has seen a contraction in its regional presence.

DFI, which first entered the Malaysian grocery market in 1999, exited the country in March 2023 by selling its stake in GCH Retail, the operator of the Giant, Mercato, and Giant Mini chains.

Similarly, in 2021, PT Hero Supermarket, a retail group majority-owned by DFI, closed all of its Giant supermarkets in Indonesia after the group’s revenue fell by 34% year-on-year.

In April, the Business Times reported that DFI had put the 9,731 sq ft Housing Board retail unit in Toa Payoh, currently occupied by Giant, up for sale at a guide price of S$16.5 million.

The company stated that the sale was part of a strategy to reallocate resources and focus on improving customer experience in other stores.

DFI’s half-year earnings report published on 1 August 2024 revealed that its food operations in Singapore experienced declining sales due to challenging consumer sentiment.

Despite this, the group posted underlying profit growth, reaching US$76 million.

The company attributed this profitability boost to an improved product margin mix and effective cost control measures.

In response to the Singapore’s Toa Payoh outlet closures, a DFI spokesperson told ST that the company continuously evaluates its store network and adapts to market trends and consumer needs.

“Giant and Cold Storage remain core businesses of DFI Retail Group, and our commitment to growth and expansion in Singapore remains unchanged,” the spokesperson added.

According to DFI’s official website, the group operates in 13 countries and territories, with around 11,000 outlets and a workforce of approximately 200,000 employees.

In Singapore, DFI operates not only Giant supermarkets but also 7-Eleven convenience stores and the Guardian health and beauty chain.

The group’s parent company, DFI Retail Group Holdings Limited, is incorporated in Bermuda and is primarily listed on the London Stock Exchange under the equity shares (transition) category, with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore.

DFI’s businesses are managed from Hong Kong by DFI Retail Group Management Services Limited, through its regional offices. The group is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

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