PUREGOLD Price Club Inc. (PPCI) opened its 5th Mindanao branch in Cagayan de Oro (CDO); occupying the previous Ororama Mega Center along Claro M. Recto Avenue last December 13, 2013.
This branch is the first flagship store and the biggest of all its Mindanao’s stores.
Hundreds of people lined up outside the supermarket under the scorching heat, as they waited for the grand opening. The crowd included students, mothers, and even families – all excited for what the new establishment has in store for them.
Father Bong Apolinar of Nazareno Church celebrated the mass and blessed the infrastructure, employees and the whole operation. The Sta. Cecilia Choir, also from the same diocese, sang for the entire ceremony.
During the program, PPCI President Leonardo Dayao, thanked the presence of the suppliers who came all the way from Manila, people from the City Hall headed by Mayor Oscar Moreno and other distinguished guests.
Susan Co, vice-chairperson of PPCI, welcomed and congratulated all the new employees of Puregold. She reminded the employees to work as a ‘team’ to contribute greatly to the success of the establishment.
“How we started is how we should continue it... Our company is growing, you have a future here,” she assured them.
“Your purpose of coming here is for your family, yourself and your careers,” she added.
Vincent Co, son of the vice chairperson and the organizer of the event; PESO Manager Cathy Surilla, who was responsible for the evaluation of the employees; Tonio delos Santos, VP for Operation of PPCI; and Mayor Moreno, cut the ribbon as the store opened.
Puregold at its finest
With more than 200 branches nationwide, Puregold proves its success for almost 15 years in the making. Just this year, the supermarket opened its other branches, prior to CDO’s: Digos, Tagum, Lanang and Butuan.
Delos Santos said the location is accessible to everyone considering its distance from the customers’ houses, transportation is convenient since most public utility vehicles (PUVs) pass by the area and the parking space is huge.
Another advantage that he cited is the Tindahan ni Aling Puring Program (TNAP), an exclusive program to the Puregold’s customers designed to help the small and medium scale entrepreneurs by providing them quality yet affordable products. This can help the sari-sari store owners, caterers, and the other customers.
Puregold is known for its affordable and wide-range variety of products that consumers can really choose from. It underpinned its tagline, “Sa Puregold, Always Mura, Always Bago, Always May Promo, Always Panalo,” as they launched its Buy 1 Take 1 promo on selected items such as rice, bread, wheat, sugar, wine and others.
Toward the end of the program, lion dancers performed to the drumbeats and crackling firecrackers. Gintong Amihan Dance Troupe of Mindanao University of Science and Technology also presented a cultural dance.
Mascots of Botoy’s Lechon Manok, BBQ and Liempo; Tender Juicy; and Virginia Food entertained the audience with their different amusing acts.
With regard to their expansion, PPCI vice chairperson Co said that with the responses that they have received from Kagay-anons and if they could find another best area in the city, they will definitely expand.
“Thank you for welcoming Puregold to Cagayan de Oro. Rest-assured that we will give you the best service and the best items. I hope you can help and support us,” she said as she ended her piece during the opening ceremony. (Alyssa Rikka Clenuar, MUST Intern)