PH’s sari-sari store sales trends appear more closely linked to specific occasions, not directly inflation-driven: report

by

Azunta Gaviola

-

1 year ago

Be part of the forefront of innovation and reshape the future of retail and e-commerce! Making its highly anticipated return, MARKETECH APAC and UpTech Media partners for the Retail & E-Commerce Innovation Marketing & Tech Summit Malaysia 2025, happening on 22 May 2025 at Sheraton Petaling Jaya and for the Retail &E-Commerce Innovation Marketing & Tech Summit: Philippines 2025 on 25 June 2025 at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila. Don’t miss out!

Philippines – Sari-sari stores, which are small-scale mom-and-pop stores in the Philippines, have noted that its sales trends appear to be more closely linked to specific occasions, according to the recent Sari IQ year-end report by Packworks.

Findings of the report suggest that sari-sari store sales trends are not directly driven by inflation. This is evidenced by the fact that the data showing the month-on-month growth in gross merchandise value did not show a clear correlation with the country’s month-on-month inflation rate. 

It also implies that it is more likely driven by occasions, as most of the peaks in the trend recorded align with major holidays and long breaks like the Christmas season and Holy Week.

During the Holy Week in April 2023, for instance, when the month-on-month inflation rate reached 6.6%, sari-sari stores exhibited resilience, achieving a month-on-month sales growth of 14.4%, significantly outpacing the inflation rate.

Interestingly, the report also recorded an increase in sales regardless of the occasion, as the stores remain the community’s go-to pantry. To note, products with the highest sales include instant noodles (159%), ready-to-heat (221%), recipe mix (117%), and ready-to-cook (42%).

Furthermore, sari-sari stores located outside of urban areas were observed to achieve the highest sales. Specifically, the regions with the highest sales figures are as follows: Region IV-A (Php 2.83 billion), Region II (Php 1.82 billion), and Region III (Php 1.58 billion). Surprisingly, traditional urban centres like the National Capital Region (NCR) and Cebu (Region VII) only rank 5th and 6th, respectively.

Commenting on the findings, Andoy Montiel, chief data officer at Packworks, said, “The Philippines’ unique sachet economy plays a pivotal role in the resilience of sari-sari stores amidst the challenges of an inflationary economy. It enables the sale of goods in small, affordable units, ensuring that essential products remain within reach for the average Filipino, even as inflation rates fluctuate.”

“The stores’ resilience, even amid inflationary pressures, lies in how they are embedded in the fabric of the community’s way of life, reflecting a symbiotic relationship between the stores and their customers. More importantly, it shows how stores display agility in their inventory and operations to cater to the heightened demands of these seasons, further reinforcing their role as indispensable components of community life,” Andoy further explained. 

Be part of the forefront of innovation and reshape the future of retail and e-commerce! Making its highly anticipated return, MARKETECH APAC and UpTech Media partners for the Retail & E-Commerce Innovation Marketing & Tech Summit Philippines 2025, happening on 25 June 2025 at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila. Don’t miss out!

The NEXT Awards 2025 is here, and we’re seeking the most innovative marketing campaigns from Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Asia Pacific. Submit your entry today and showcase your best work!

Share

RECENT ARTICLES

Globe, Singtel subsidiary establish joint venture to boost cloud, AI solutions in APAC
Rimini Street joins Workday AMS Partner network, launches ‘Rimini Manage for Workday’
Trident Digital forge strategic alliance with Silkoo, Haitu to establish integrated, tech-driven e-commerce ecosystem
Around 84% of business leaders express concerns over data loss, but few use safe testing environments: report
Zendesk launches agentic AI-powered resolution platform for enhanced customer service
Ellipse 3

RELATED ARTICLES

2_Globe, Singtel subsidiary establish joint venture to boost cloud, AI solutions in APAC_11zon
Rimini Street joins Workday AMS Partner network, launches ‘Rimini Manage for Workday’
Trident Digital forge strategic alliance with Silkoo, Haitu to establish integrated, tech-driven e-commerce ecosystem_11zon
Ellipse 3

FEATURED ARTICLES

2_Globe, Singtel subsidiary establish joint venture to boost cloud, AI solutions in APAC_11zon
Rimini Street joins Workday AMS Partner network, launches ‘Rimini Manage for Workday’
Trident Digital forge strategic alliance with Silkoo, Haitu to establish integrated, tech-driven e-commerce ecosystem_11zon

Subscribe to UpTech Media Newsletter

Video Title Here: The Indonesian on-ground activation status

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos.

Video Title Here: The Indonesian on-ground activation status

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos.

Video Title Here: The Indonesian on-ground activation status

Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos.