Sari-sari stores prove resilience during record typhoon season in the Philippines
Sari-sari stores across the Philippines demonstrated resilience and vital community support during the record-breaking 2024 typhoon season, according to data from Filipino tech startup Packworks.io.
Through its business intelligence platform, Sari IQ, Packworks analyzed over one million sales transactions from more than 300,000 sari-sari stores nationwide, focusing on provinces heavily affected by storms, including Batangas, Cagayan, Isabela, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes.
Surging demand after typhoons
The study revealed a 27 percent increase in average daily gross merchandise value (GMV) and a 50 percent rise in transactions in the month following six typhoons between October 23 and November 18. The sharpest increases came from the Bicol region, where GMV spiked by 50 percent during storms and by an additional 26 percent after. Camarines Norte registered the highest jump with a 105 percent increase in GMV after a typhoon.
“These data findings challenge the common belief that micro businesses are less resilient during bad weather conditions,” said Andoy Montiel, Packworks chief data officer. “Through presence and grit, our store owners have figured out how to persevere and even thrive amid natural calamities, creating real business value and aiding in community recovery.”
Shifts in consumer behavior
The report highlighted changing buying habits during and after storms. Cigarettes and gin topped sales during typhoons, with gin rising by a median of 14 percent in GMV across seven provinces, followed by cigarettes with a 12 percent median increase in six provinces. Powdered coffee and biscuits also saw modest gains.
In the recovery phase, demand shifted toward cleaning supplies. Detergent emerged as one of the top-selling products across five provinces, accounting for a 7 percent share of GMV as households dealt with storm damage.
“With the uncertainty of climate change, our data analytics asserts the stable role of sari-sari stores as a reliable, responsive, and vital part of the grassroots retail ecosystem during a crisis,” said Hubert Yap, Packworks chief platform officer. “Understanding these just-in-time realities is key to informing businesses and policymakers in building a more agile supply chain.”
PAGASA reported that 2024 marked the highest number of typhoon names decommissioned in a single season since 2001, with eight removed due to severe damage. On average, 20 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility annually, with eight to nine making landfall. The country is forecast to brace for 7 to 15 tropical cyclones from September 2025 to February 2026.
