Surangel and Sons Co.

What Surangel and Sons Co. does

Surangel and Sons Co. is a privately-held, family-owned diversified conglomerate headquartered in Koror, Republic of Palau, operating under the SASCO brand since its founding by Surangel Whipps Sr. in 1980. The company runs an integrated portfolio spanning retail (Surangel's Supercenter, Grocery Store, Department Store, Yrang's Home Furnishings, Mason's Hardware Do It Center, and Rock Island Action Wear), food and beverage (Jinrui Ramen, L'Amarena Gelato, Bakery & Deli, and the Chatime franchise), automotive (Ksau's Motors as a Toyota dealer, AVIS rental and certified pre-owned sales), construction (full-service general contracting with the largest heavy equipment fleet in Palau plus quarry and concrete operations), marine (Mercury Marine dealership, Kaika and Barracuda boats), logistics, travel agency services (Surangel's Worldwide Travel), beauty salon, and printing/imaging services — with aviation services announced as an upcoming vertical. The business is vertically integrated across the island's supply chain, combining import, logistics, retail, wholesale, construction, and travel under one corporate umbrella.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of transaction-based retail sales (point-of-sale at two supercenter locations plus shop.surangel.com e-commerce), recurring construction contracts with government and enterprise clients, daily-rate car and equipment rentals, professional services (beauty, travel, construction), and franchise-based food and beverage operations. Pricing models include unit pricing for retail and used vehicles, daily rates for vehicle rentals ($60.50–$242), usage-based heavy equipment rentals, project-based construction quoting, and commission-based travel agency fees. The company employs 450+ people across 17+ operating subsidiaries and is led by CEO Eric Ksau Whipps (second-generation family leadership), with family members occupying senior construction and operating roles.

Go-to-market is primarily direct-to-consumer through physical storefronts in Koror and Airai, supplemented by community-based brand building (sports sponsorships, school and church donations), social media presence, and a monthly company newsletter (The Inside Hub). B2B revenue is anchored by Palau National Government infrastructure contracts. The underlying technology stack is conventional: standard e-commerce, social media, and basic digital marketing — there is no proprietary software platform, no AI/ML deployment, and no disclosed API or SDK ecosystem.

Name

Surangel and Sons Co.

Legal name

Surangel and Sons Co.

Website

https://surangel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Surangel and Sons Co. is a privately-held, family-owned diversified conglomerate in the Republic of Palau, operating retail supercenters, restaurants, automotive dealerships, construction, marine, logistics, and travel services across 17+ subsidiaries and 450+ employees, serving Palauan residents, tourists, and the national government.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Diversified Retail and Construction Services

NAICS

Warehouse Clubs, Supercenters, and Other General Merchandise Retailers (4552), Grocery and Convenience Retailers (4451), Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance Retailers (449), Electronics and Appliance Retailers (44921)

SIC

Retail-Grocery Stores (5411), Retail-Food Stores (5400), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Eating Places (5812), Wholesale-Durable Goods (5000)

akta.pro primary industry

National Big-Box Mass Merchandisers (CRAGABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Warehouse-Style Bulk Grocers (Membership/Non-membership) (CRAHAMAB), Diving & Snorkeling Retail (Scuba Gear) (CRAMAIAF), Island, Beach & Resort Travel Agencies (THAKAFAL)

Keywords

• Retail supercenter operations
• Construction contracting services
• Automotive dealership sales
• Marine equipment distribution
• Equipment rental logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Palau

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales (Grocery, Department Store, Hardware): Traditional retail revenue through Surangel's Grocery Store, Department Store, Yrang's Home Furnishings, Mason's Hardware Do It Center, and Rock Island Action Wear. Products include groceries, electronics, clothing, toys, sporting goods, home appliances, painting supplies, power tools, automotive supplies, garden products, and outdoor/recreational equipment. Revenue is generated through point-of-sale transactions with customers in Palau.
2. Food and Beverage Operations: Restaurant and food service revenue from Jinrui Ramen, L'Amarena Gelato Shop, Bakery & Deli, and Chatime bubble tea. These dining options within the Surangel Supercenter provide recurring transaction revenue from local customers and tourists visiting Palau.
3. Automotive Sales and Service: Revenue from new and used vehicle sales, car rentals (including AVIS partnership), vehicle servicing, maintenance and repairs through Ksau's Motors. The automotive division offers vehicles from brands including Toyota, Chevrolet, BMW, Lexus, and sells pre-owned inventory.
4. Equipment and Machinery Rentals: Construction equipment rental business providing excavators, bulldozers, cranes, dump trucks, forklifts, concrete equipment, and other heavy machinery for short and long-term arrangements. Also includes car rentals for tourists and locals.
5. Construction Services: General contracting, design-build services, electrical work, plumbing, sewer work, and construction management. Services include engineering, design, surveying, new construction, renovations, and specialized trades. One of the largest construction companies in Palau.
6. Marine Products and Services: Sales of boats (Kaika, Barracuda brands), boat engines (Mercury Marine), parts and accessories through Mason's Mercury Marine. Services include marine workshop and repair.
7. Travel Agency Services: Surangel's Worldwide Travel provides travel consultations, bookings, charter flights, and airline connections as a commission-based travel agency serving Palau residents and visitors.
8. Beauty and Personal Services: Yrang's Beauty Salon offers hair cuts, treatments, coloring, manicures, pedicures, body waxing, and spa services including massage therapy.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Surangel and Sons Co. operates a diversified portfolio of physical retail, hospitality, construction, automotive, marine, and travel businesses in the Republic of Palau, anchored by the Surangel Supercenter locations in Koror and Airai. The company sells groceries, department store merchandise, hardware, home furnishings, vehicles, boats, marine engines, construction services, heavy equipment rentals, and operates multiple restaurants and beauty/travel services. It is positioned as a one-stop shop for goods and services in Palau, employing over 450 people across its divisions.

Product overview

Surangel and Sons Co. is a diversified retail and services conglomerate operating primarily in the Republic of Palau. The company operates a portfolio of businesses organized into distinct divisions: retail operations (Surangel's Supercenter, Grocery Store, Department Store, Yrang's Home Furnishings, Mason's Hardware Do It Center, and Rock Island Action Wear); restaurants (Jinrui Mina Menrui Ramen, L'Arena Gelato Shop, Bakery & Deli, and Chatime franchise); automotive (Ksau's Motors dealership, car rental under Avis franchise); marine services (Mercury Marine dealer with boats and engines); construction (full-service construction company with quarry and concrete operations); logistics (equipment transport and rental); and professional services (Yrang's Beauty Salon, Ksau's Imaging Zone, Worldwide Travel, and upcoming Aviation Services). The company is privately owned by the Surangel family and employs over 450 people across its operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Surangel's Grocery Store A full-service supermarket providing fresh produce, food staples, bakery items, imported products, cleaning supplies, and personal hygiene products for individual consumers and households in Palau.
• Surangel's Department Store General merchandise retail offering electronics, clothing, toys, sporting goods, office supplies, bikes, footwear, and home and kitchen products.
• Yrang's Home Furnishings Home furnishing and furniture retail offering residential and corporate interior design products, furniture, and home decoration items.
• Mason's Hardware Do It Center Hardware and building materials retailer offering appliances, painting supplies, housewares, power tools, automotive parts, garden equipment, electrical supplies, and general hardware under the Do it Best franchise.
• Rock Island Action Wear (RAW) Outdoor recreational gear retailer offering fishing equipment, dive gear, dive watches, clothing, footwear, sunglasses, optical products, and Pelican brand items.
• Yrang's Beauty Salon Beauty and personal care services including hair cuts, hair treatments, hair coloring, manicures, pedicures, body waxing, facial treatments, and massage therapy.
• Ksau's Imaging Zone Printing and graphics services including copy and digital printing, graphic design, t-shirt and screen printing, vinyl graphics, signs and banners, window tinting, and trophies and awards.
• Surangel's Worldwide Travel Travel agency offering consultations, bookings, charter flights, and airline connections for travel to and within Palau.
• Jinrui Mina Menrui Ramen Shop Authentic Japanese ramen restaurant originating from Osaka, serving traditional ramen dishes including Shoyu and Miso varieties, located on the second floor of Surangel's Supercenter Airai.
• L'Arena Gelato Shop Artisanal Italian gelato shop offering traditional gelato flavors, sorbets, gelato cakes, and freshly made waffle cones, located in the second floor food court.
• Bakery & Deli Kitchen Deli and bakery offering roasted chicken, pizza, hot plate items, sandwiches, soups, salads, baked goods, cookies, cakes, and gluten-free products.
• Chatime Bubble Tea Shop Global bubble tea franchise offering milk teas, specialty tea drinks, smoothies, slushies, lattes, and coffee beverages with various toppings and flavors.
• Ksau's Motors Auto dealership offering new vehicles including Chevrolet, Toyota, BMW, and Lexus brands, as well as pre-owned vehicles, vehicle financing, and a service center with OEM parts.
• Car Rental Services Vehicle rental services offering economy cars, compact sedans, SUVs, minivans, pick-up trucks, 15-seater vans, and convertibles for exploring Palau, operated under the Avis franchise.
• Avis Cars for Sale Pre-owned vehicle sales under the Avis franchise brand, offering used cars, SUVs, and minivans from the Avis rental fleet at prices ranging from $11,995 to $49,995.
• Surangel's Construction Company Full-service construction company providing engineering, design, survey, general contracting, design-build services, electrical work, plumbing, sewer work, machinery rental, and quarry products including ready mix concrete, hollow blocks, and aggregates.
• Surangel's Logistics Equipment and transport logistics including heavy equipment transport, tractors, trailers, barges, tugboats, water taxi services, cranes, forklifts, and bus transportation.
• Mercury Marine Workshop Mercury Marine authorized dealer offering boat sales including Kaika and Barracuda boats, Mercury outboard motors, MerCruiser sterndrive engines, Mercury Diesel engines, and marine parts and accessories.
• Heavy Equipment Rentals Rental of construction equipment including excavators, bulldozers, cranes, dump trucks, forklifts, concrete equipment, and other heavy machinery for short and long-term arrangements.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chatime (La Kaffa)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Chatime is a global bubble tea brand founded in 2005 with millions of customers worldwide. Surangel and Sons Co. operates the Chatime franchise location at Surangel Supercenter ground floor in Palau. Chatime serves signature milk teas, specialty tea drinks, smoothies, slushies, and coffee beverages. The franchise brings international brand recognition and proven business model to Palau.
• AVIS Rent A Car SystemcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAVIS partnership for car rentals and certified pre-owned vehicle sales. Ksau's Motors operates as AVIS rental location and sells AVIS-certified used vehicles in Palau. The partnership provides brand credibility in the car rental and sales market with the 'We Try Harder' philosophy.
• Hot Wheels PalauminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHot Wheels Palau car rental brand operating under the Surangel and Sons Co. umbrella, providing economy vehicles for tourists and locals exploring Palau.
• Do it BestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMason's Hardware operates as a Do it Best Do It Center franchise, providing access to the Do it Best hardware cooperative network including DIY project resources, buying guides, and how-to content.
• Kaika BoatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKaika Boats is a boat manufacturer offering models including Kaika 27SP, 27WB, and 36HD. Mason's Mercury Marine distributes Kaika boats in Palau, providing boats for fishing, watersports, and commercial use.
• Barracuda BoatscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBarracuda Boats offers fishing and commercial boats including 188 CCO, 188 CCR, 238 OCR, 188 CCS, 238 OCC, and CCF models. Mason's Mercury Marine distributes Barracuda boats in Palau.
• Mercury MarinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMercury Marine is a global leader in boat engines and marine propulsion. Mason's Mercury Marine operates as authorized dealer offering outboard motors, MerCruiser sterndrive engines, and Mercury Diesel engines, with parts, accessories, and workshop services.
• ToyotacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorToyota dealership relationship with Ksau's Motors, offering new Toyota vehicles in Palau. Toyota Airai location provides sales and service for Toyota brand vehicles.
• Palau Red Cross SocietyminorOthersSurangel and Sons Co. is described as the strongest corporate sponsor for Palau Red Cross Society throughout the years. Mr. & Mrs. Surangel S. Whipps Sr. and CEO & Mrs. Eric Ksau Whipps support PRCS mission and community initiatives.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Avis Budget Group: Parent brand of the AVIS franchise operated by Surangel. Comparable through the car rental franchise model and certified pre-owned vehicle sales channel that Surangel runs in Palau.
• DFS Group: Duty-free retail conglomerate serving tourism-heavy geographies in Pacific and Asia. Comparable through tourism-oriented retail, F&B, and service integration in island destinations.
• Do it Best Corp. Hardware cooperative whose Do It Center franchise Surangel operates through Mason's Hardware. Comparable in providing bulk hardware retail access to small/rural markets via franchise model.
• Mercury Marine dealers: Network of authorized Mercury Marine dealers globally. Mason's Mercury Marine operates as one such authorized dealer, making it comparable in marine engine, parts, and boat sales/service in island markets.
• Toyota Motor Corporation (distributor network): Toyota's global distributor/dealer network is similar to Surangel's Ksau's Motors operation in Palau. Comparable through exclusive territory vehicle distribution, service, and parts in island/small markets.

Regional players

• Island Super Subsistence: Pacific Islands retail and wholesale distributors serving similar small-population island economies. Comparable diversified distribution model and reliance on imported goods for limited domestic markets.
• WCTC (Western Caroline Trading Company): Diversified retail and wholesale conglomerate in the Western Pacific/Micronesia region. Operates similarly diversified retail, hardware, automotive, and construction-related businesses serving island communities.
• Pacific Islands Club: Hospitality and tourism conglomerate serving Pacific island markets including Palau and Guam. Comparable through diversified tourism-adjacent operations (lodging, dining, services) targeting visitors to small island destinations.

Direct peers

• Cost-U-Less: Warehouse-style grocery and general merchandise retailer operating across Pacific Islands and Caribbean. Similar business model to Surangel's Supercenter in serving island communities with bulk groceries and household goods.

Others

• La Kaffa (Chatime parent): Parent of Chatime bubble tea brand franchised by Surangel. Comparable through international F&B franchise expansion into emerging markets, particularly Asia-Pacific territories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/surangelandsons
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surangel-and-sons-co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Surangel and Sons Co.