Sari-sari store

[2] Candies in recycled jars, canned goods, and cigarettes are displayed while cooking oil, salt, and sugar are stored at the back of the shop.

According to the Magna Kultura Foundation, sari-sari stores account for approximately 70% of sales of manufactured consumer food products nationwide.

Although prices may be higher than those in supermarkets, sari-sari stores offer convenient access to basic commodities, especially in rural areas where larger markets are scarce.

[5][1] In the Philippines, following the concept of tingi or retail, customers can buy 'units' of a product rather than a whole package, making it affordable to those with limited budgets.

The sari-sari store saves customers from paying extra transportation costs, especially in rural areas, since some towns can be very far from the nearest market or grocery.

The lifespan of sari-sari stores is highly variable, with many closing after a few weeks due to insufficient income or management mishandling by owners who have limited formal schooling.

Any essential household good that might be missing from one’s pantry – from basic food items like sugar, coffee, and cooking condiments, to other necessities like soap or shampoo, is most conveniently purchased from the nearby sari-sari store at economically sized quantities that are affordable to common citizens.