In the mid-1990s Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Tang Yeam Soon and his wife, Puan Sri Khor Guik Lee started the Pacific Hypermarket Group, a nouveau business concept that embraced the hypermarket, supermarket and department store under one roof. “Jimat Setiap Hari” is its motto. In 2001 The Store Corporation (The Store) acquired the Pacific Hypermarket Group and Tan Sri Tang became its Group Managing Director.

The Store’s history goes back to the 1960s when it first opened in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. The idea was to offer good quality products at low prices in a no frills shopping environment. The company was listed in 1994. According to its website (www.tstore.com.my) the group presently has 75 outlets across the nation, with 49 The Store Supermarket & Departmental Store, 9 Pacific Hypermarket & Departmental Store in West Malaysia and 17 Milimewa Superstores in Sabah.

0n 19 May 2016, the second generation joined the family controlled business. William Tang Chee Weng, 34 now, is Executive Director of The Store.  He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Retail Management (Hons) from University of Surrey UK in 2008. William worked for a year with London’s Fortnum & Mason before returning to Malaysia to work as Special Assistant to his father.

The Tang family took The Store private in February 2017. Which direction will The Store go in the coming years as digital disruption in the retail industry continues unabated?