GOLDEN ABC (GABC)—popularly known as the Penshoppe Group—was named Apparel Retailer of the Year – Philippines at the prestigious Retail Asia Awards 2025 held in Singapore.
Organized annually, the Retail Asia Awards honors the most outstanding retailers across Asia for their achievements, innovations, and leadership in the industry. With entries coming from across the region, winners represent companies that are not only excelling in their home markets but are also redefining the future of retail across Asia-Pacific.
The Apparel Retailer of the Year category recognizes fashion retailers that deliver a diverse range of stylish and high-quality apparel, demonstrate consistent innovation, provide outstanding customer experiences, contribute meaningfully to sustainability, and play a significant role in advancing the fashion industry.
In conferring the award, Retail Asia recognized GABC for exceeding these standards across every dimension. More than simply meeting the award criteria, GABC has consistently gone above and beyond in raising the bar for Philippine retail, transforming itself into a globally competitive enterprise anchored on purpose, innovation, and leadership.
Among its key differentiators was GABC’s introduction Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) in its distribution center, which resulted in reduced lead times by 400% and increased productivity by 500%. Such operational innovation was likewise validated by the Outstanding Filipino Retailer Awards which conferred back-to-back honors for the retailer as Most Innovative Company in 2023 and the inaugural Retail Employer Award in 2024.
Operational resiliency likewise extends across multiple areas of its business with the retailer having reintroduced its Buy Online, Pick Up In-Store (BOPIS) capabilities, making it easier for customers to move seamlessly between digital and physical channels.
On the sustainability front, GABC’s Manila headquarters now operates entirely on renewable energy—a move projected to eliminate 2,500 metric tons of CO₂ emissions over two years. Rainwater recycling systems across its offices and distribution centers save over one million gallons of water each year, while smarter inventory management and eco-friendly packaging solutions continue to drive responsible consumption across its operations.
Alongside these innovations, the company has built a strong learning culture anchored on its Lean Six Sigma (LSS) program, where managers lead process improvement projects that sharpen operational discipline. This is reinforced by regular Learning Blitzes with external experts, company-wide book reviews to embed key business principles, and ongoing partnerships with global consultants and thought leaders who help drive continuous growth for the company.
At the core of GOLDEN ABC’s continued transformation is a deliberate shift toward becoming a true learning organization—an approach spearheaded by its President & CEO Alice Liu, who was appointed as chief executive in January of this year.
Its long-term leadership transition, which was completed over a two-year period, has also brought together a strengthened global C-suite team to steer the company into its next phase of growth.
The award was accepted by Penshoppe Brand Director Brandon Liu at the Retail Asia Awards night in Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.
“We’re deeply grateful and humbled to be recognized as Apparel Retailer of the Year. This award belongs to the many teams behind our brands—whose hard work, creativity, and passion brought us here,” said the younger Liu upon receiving the award.
“We hope to use this platform to continue uplifting Filipino talent and take it to the global stage. There’s still so much more to do, and this recognition inspires us to keep pushing forward—always with our customers at the heart of everything we do, wherever in the world they may be,” he added.
Founded in 1986, GABC has grown into a global fashion enterprise with over 1,000 stores and 6,000 employees. Guided by its purpose to Inspire Greatness and its long-term vision to Build Brands for the World, the company continues to deliver high-quality, accessible fashion while constantly evolving to meet changing customer needs.
