Is Nike downsizing in the Philippines? Store closures fuel speculation

Nike branches at major malls have closed in recent months, while the sportswear giant is also streamlining its retail footprint in the US.

Consecutive closures of Nike branches at major malls have caused speculation among customers that the athletic apparel chain may be downsizing in the Philippines, following similar retail moves in the United States.

Nike at SM Fairview was among the first large branches to close in April this year. The chain’s Alabang Town Center branch also shuttered in July, allegedly due to the mall’s redesign.

Branches at Gateway Mall, Trinoma, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, and Robinsons Magnolia have also shut down between July and August, with their sudden closures preceded by major clearance sales. Some of the closed branches had been open for less than a year, taking many local fans of the brand by surprise.

There have also been reports of a possible change in Nike’s local management and distribution, with MAP Active being linked to a possible takeover of Nike’s Philippine franchise from Green Tee, Inc. Neither Nike nor the companies involved has confirmed the reported transition.

Green Tee Inc. is currently the official Nike Store Partner in the Philippines, and its LinkedIn page says it operates 18 Nike shops, one Jordan Store, two Bootcamp Stores, and two outlets nationwide.

MAP Active is the sports and active-lifestyle retail arm of Indonesian conglomerate PT Mitra Adiperkasa Tbk. The group already has a presence in Nike’s Philippine retail operations through Planet Sports Inc., one of its Philippine subsidiaries. MAP’s corporate filings list Planet Sports as handling Nike and several other international sports brands. Its other Philippine subsidiary, Map Active Philippines Inc., handles brands including New Balance and Haddad.

Netizens also speculate that the store closures may reflect changes in the retail economy, as e-commerce and resale markets attract more consumers with lower prices compared to those offered through in-store direct sales.

Nike has not directly commented on its sales and operations in the Philippines. However, the company has also simultaneously closed stores in the United States and announced the elimination of 1,400 internal roles as part of a modernization strategy.

Business news outlet Fast Company reported that Nike closed around 24 Nike Well Collective locations in the U.S. in 2026, as part of efforts to streamline its retail footprint.

Nike COO Venkatesh Alagirisamy said in a statement on April 23 that the company was downsizing its workforce this year as part of a modernization strategy, which includes a greater investment in technology and rationalizing supply chains.

“Collectively, these changes will result in a reduction of approximately 1,400 roles in Global Operations, with the majority in Technology,” the statement read.

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