IFC mulls $10-M bet on Philippine retailer Dali

MANILA, Philippines — The International Finance Corp. is considering a $10 million investment in Dali Everyday Grocery, a rapidly expanding hard-discount retailer in the Philippines.

The private-sector arm of the World Bank Group bared this in a Sept. 22 disclosure. IF said the proposed quasi-equity financing would help Dali broaden consumer access to affordable household goods.

Dali was founded in 2020. Since then, it has built its business around a no-frills, small-format model. It has limited assortments and a heavy emphasis on private-label products.

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If approved, the IFC’s investment would add to a roster of backers. This includes the Asian Development Bank, Creador, DEG, Navegar, Pavilion Capital and Venturi Partners.

Beyond financing, the IFC intends to provide “non-financial” support in areas such as standard setting, innovation and capacity building. It added that the project was expected to strengthen supply chains, benefit local suppliers and boost competitiveness in the retail sector.

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The company already operates more than 1,000 stores across Luzon. It is one of the fastest-growing retailers in the country.

“The proposed investment aims to enhance market competitiveness by scaling up the hard-discount retail model, raising quality standards and reinforcing supply chains,” the IFC said. /rwd