John Gokongwei, Jr. Business and Family Business
Who is John Gokongwei, Jr.
John Gokongwei, Jr. was the founder of JG Summit Holdings, Inc., one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines. His empire started from a small post-war trading business and eventually expanded into food manufacturing, real estate, retail, airlines, banking, petrochemicals, publishing, and telecommunications.
What is John Gokongwei, Jr. Business
| Business / Venture Name | Sector / Industry | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Amasia Trading | Trading / Import-Export | First formal business after WWII. Imported items like flour, onions, and used clothing from the US. |
| Universal Corn Products, Inc. | Manufacturing (Corn Starch) | Founded in 1957. The first major manufacturing company of the conglomerate. Eventually evolved into URC. |
| Universal Robina Corporation (URC) | Food & Beverage | Manufacturer of snacks (Jack ‘n Jill), beverages, coffee (Blend 45), sugar, flour, and agro-industrial products. One of the largest F&B companies in Asia. |
| Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) | Real Estate & Property Development | Developer of Robinsons Malls, Go Hotels, Summit Hotels, office buildings, industrial spaces, and residential properties. |
| Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. | Retail | Second-largest multi-format retailer in the Philippines. Operates supermarkets, department stores, hardware, and drugstores. |
| Cebu Pacific Air (CEB) | Air Transportation | Founded in 1996. The first low-cost airline in the Philippines and one of Asia’s largest budget carriers. |
| JG Summit Olefins Corporation | Petrochemicals | Operates the first and only naphtha cracker plant in the Philippines, producing plastics and resins. |
| Robinsons Bank | Banking & Financial Services | Established in 1997. Merged with Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) in 2024. |
| Digital Telecommunications Philippines (Digitel) / Sun Cellular | Telecommunications | Former major telecom player known for “unlimited” promos. Sold to PLDT in 2011. |
| Summit Media | Publishing / Digital Media | One of the country’s largest magazine publishers. Now fully digital. |
| Equity Holdings in Major Corporations | Finance / Utilities | Held minority shares in major companies such as Meralco, PLDT, and BPI. |
What is John Gokongwei, Jr. Family Business
| Business / Role | Nature of Business / Role | Family Member Connection |
|---|---|---|
| JG Summit Holdings, Inc. | Holding company of all major Gokongwei enterprises | Family holds controlling interest. |
| Lance Gokongwei | Executive Leadership | Only son; President & CEO of JG Summit Holdings. Former President of Cebu Pacific. |
| Robina Gokongwei-Pe | Retail Leadership | Eldest daughter; Chairman of Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. |
| James L. Go | Executive Leadership | Younger brother; Chairman of JG Summit Holdings. |
| Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) | Philanthropy / Education | Founded by John and his brothers; one of the largest charitable foundations in the Philippines. |
Past Family Businesses
| Business / Venture | Industry | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gotiaoco Hermanos | Agricultural Trading | Business owned by his great-grandfather in Cebu; family wealth was lost after his father’s death. |
| Movie Theaters in Cebu | Entertainment | Owned by his father; debts collapsed the business after his passing. |
| Small Market Stall Business | Micro-Retail Trading | At age 13, John began selling roasted peanuts, soap, candles, and threads in local markets to support his family. |
Beyond their core ventures, John Gokongwei, Jr. Business and Family Business portfolio may include smaller enterprises or investments – reflecting their extensive entrepreneurial legacy.
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CATEGORIES Entrepreneur Spotlight