Sari-sari store activity up 32% in 2024

MANILA, Philippines — Sari-sari store activity picked up in 2024 from a year ago, fueled by growth in the regions, according to technology startup Packworks.

In a statement, Packworks said that 175,000 stores actively transacted through its Sari.PH Pro app last year, 32 percent higher than the 133,000 stores in 2023.

Through the Sari.PH Pro app, sari-sari storeowners can access pricing tools, inventory management, sales and revenue tracking and working capital loans.

Packworks said Western Visayas posted the largest increase in transacting stores at 62 percent, followed by Calabarzon with a 50-percent growth and the Bicol region with a 47-percent increase.

Other regions with notable growth in transacting stores are Central Luzon (26 percent) and Central Visayas (21 percent).

The spikes in transactions across regions were seen from September to December or the peak ‘ber’ months season.

Across the country, there was an average increase of 12 percent in transacting stores.

Packworks CEO and founder Bing Tan said the data reflects the robust growth in sari-sari store activities in the regions.

“The surge in the number of stores recorded in our app is a testament to the savvy entrepreneurial spirit of these businesses, which are the grassroots foundation of local economies. As they thrive, they create jobs, stimulate the local retail ecosystem and contribute to the overall economic development of the Philippines,” Tan said.

While many regions posted significant growth, MIMAROPA registered the biggest decline, particularly in April and May last year, the same time Typhoon Aghon hit the region.

During this period, transacting stores dropped to 20 percent in April and approximately 38 percent in May.

For sari-sari stores to grow, Packworks co-founder Ibba Bernardo emphasized the importance of access to essential services, especially for those in the provinces and areas affected by disasters.