Food retail sales value share Philippines 2023, by outlet

Informal traditional retailers accounted for nearly half of the total food retail sales in the Philippines in 2023, making them the leading food retail channel. This was followed by supermarkets, which contributed to about a quarter of those sales. 

What makes informal traditional retailers popular? 

With easily collapsible stalls found in very accessible spots, informal traditional retailers are usually spread out in various locations in the Philippines. These retailers typically provide fresh food items such as fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat that could be sold at a much cheaper price as they are not regulated. These sellers also have lower operating costs as they do not need to pay rent. In addition, such retailers can offer better deals, depending on the availability of the products they are selling. Recovering from losses brought by the pandemic, the retail sales of informal traditional retailers increased by about 430 percent between 2021 and 2022. 

Impact of inflation on grocery shopping 

As the average inflation rate of all commodities in the Philippines continues to rise, households facing difficulties being able to afford necessities. A March 2023 survey revealed that most Filipino consumers check prices first before buying anything due to inflation. Meanwhile, due to rising living costs/inflation, etc., some other consumers have chosen to reduce the frequency of doing any leisure activities, such as dining out and going to bars or cinemas.