AHI aims to open up to 30 AZKO stores throughout 2026

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The multi-brand retail company PT Aspirasi Hidup Indonesia Tbk (AHI), also known as ACES, is targeting the opening of 25 to 30 new AZKO stores throughout 2026.

“In line with market growth opportunities, we, PT Aspirasi Hidup Indonesia Tbk, are targeting the opening of 25 to 30 new AZKO stores for the year 2026,” said AHI Head of Investor Relations, Billy Utama, during an online public expose in Jakarta on Thursday.

Furthermore, he stated that as of August 2024, the company had already opened 15 new AZKO stores.

Billy added that expansion is carried out selectively, taking into account market potential, store productivity, and operational readiness.

“Therefore, when determining new store locations, we always consider market character, regional growth potential, public demand, and the contribution to the overall AZKO network,” he explained.

Additionally, Billy noted that the expansion is also expected to support regional growth by creating employment opportunities for local communities.

“The company, with all these considerations, will continue to expand its business prudently, while maintaining quality, productivity, and business fundamentals,” he said.

To support business development, Billy stated that the company has allocated capital expenditure (capex) of between Rp400 billion and Rp450 billion for 2026.

“As of the first semester, capex realisation reached Rp91 billion, prioritised for the renovation of existing stores and the opening of new stores, in line with the company’s plan to realise a larger portion of investment in the second semester of 2026,” he said.

Furthermore, Billy added that AHI continues to strengthen business productivity and relevance through product portfolio development, the integration of offline and digital channels, and the utilisation of technology to support company growth.

Through AZKO, the omnichannel strategy is realised by integrating the shopping experience in-store with the ruparupa digital channel, including features such as Scan & Shop, Scan & Go, ruparupa rewards membership, and live shopping, which is currently available in four AZKO stores.

“The use of AI is also being developed to enhance customer experience and operational effectiveness, including through more relevant product recommendations, visual search, and chatbots to help customers obtain information more quickly and practically,” he added.