Alfamart to open 200 stores next year in expansion push

SM RETAIL, INC. 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 sai

d the minimart chain has room to grow in both urban and underserved areas, where its small-box format is positioned to attract daily shoppers. Alfama

rt 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 chai

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

s have become an important complement to bigger grocery stores as consumers buy food and household items in smaller, more frequent trips. This has

helped chains like Alfamart expand rapidly even in markets where traditional supermarkets are already present. For Alfa

mart, the push to add as many as 250 stores next year signals confidence that demand in the community retail space will endure despite economic uncertainties. The chai