The SM group’s mini-grocery chain Alfamart plans to roll out at least 200 new stores across Luzon this year, expanding its retail footprint to 1,200 stores as it seeks to make inroads into more communities amid the prolonged pandemic.
“We continue to be guided by our company purpose of uplifting the lives of residents in underserved communities. We bring this to life by opening stores close to where our customers live and offering them a wide assortment of essential merchandise to address their daily and weekly needs,” Harvey Ong, Alfamart Philippines’ chief operating officer, said in a press statement on Friday.
A joint venture between SM and Alfamart Indonesia, Alfamart caters to a broad market segment. It sells basic groceries, select SM Bonus products, fresh and frozen items, snacks such as “turon” or fried banana, and personal care products.
“We want every Alfamart store to benefit its local community by generating employment, providing rental income to its lessors and creating opportunities for local suppliers. We also enable local businesses, such as carinderias (small eateries) and sari-sari stores, that turn to us when they need supplies,” Ong said.
Alfamart is also inviting local entrepreneurs to set up shop in the store vicinity and take advantage of its strategic locations.
“A growing number of bills payment kiosks, food kiosks and laundry shops are already partnering with us to offer their products and services to our shoppers. Partnerships are especially relevant now that everyone is reeling from the economic effects of the pandemic. In our own way, we hope to support other individuals or businesses who need a hand to get back on their feet,” Ong added.
In 2020, Alfamart opened 267 new stores within Metro Manila, Batangas, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Laguna.