Alfamart to open 200 stores next year in expansion push

SM RETAIL, INC.

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plans to open at least 200 Alfamart branches in 2026 as it boosts its footprint in communities and deepens its reach among value-seeking shoppers.SM Retail President Jonathan H. Ng said the company is preparing for another year of expansion as demand for convenience formats remains firm nationwide.

“For Alfamart, we’re expanding somewhere between 200 to 250 stores next year,” he told reporters last week. He said the minimart chain has room to grow in both urban and underserved areas, where its small-box format is positioned to attract daily shoppers.

Alfamart Philippines, a joint venture between SM and Indonesia’s PT Sumber Alfaria Trijaya Tbk, offers a mix of basic groceries, SM Bonus items, fresh and frozen goods, snacks and personal care staples.

The chain ended September with about 2,337 stores across the country, making it one of the fastest-growing minimart operators in the Philippines.