Puregold doubles down on sari-sari allies to fuel retail growth

Insider Spotlight

• Puregold president Vincent Co is amplifying support for sari-sari stores through the Sari-Sari Stories series
• The retailer leans on thousands of micro-entrepreneurs as key partners in nationwide expansion
• Strong third-quarter performance highlights the strategic value of grassroots retail ties
  
  

Sari-sari stores remain the country’s most trusted neighborhood hubs, filling access gaps in far-flung and underserved communities. They let families buy in small quantities, stretch tight budgets, and tap informal credit built on years of kapitbahay relationships.

As one of the Philippines’ leading retailers, Puregold has long tied its own performance to the health of these micro-retailers. Its vast network of sari-sari and small-store partners has powered the company’s growth and reach across the archipelago.

Why it matters

Puregold’s strategy underscores how big-box retail and mom-and-pop stores can be mutually reinforcing instead of competing head-on. Long-time sari-sari owners rely on Puregold as a stable, competitively priced supplier, while Puregold depends on them to penetrate hyperlocal markets at street level.

The company’s strong third quarter showing reflects how resilient grassroots retail remains despite shifting consumer behavior and inflation pressures.

Inside the initiative

At the heart of this push is Sari-Sari Stories, an advocacy series championed by Puregold president Vincent Co. The project spotlights the entrepreneurs behind neighborhood stores, telling their stories and framing them as pillars of community life and the broader economy.

“Puregold’s continued success reflects the unrelenting hard work of our sari-sari store members,” Co said in a statement. “With Sari-Sari Store Stories, we aim to celebrate them not only as business collaborators, but also as proud Filipino icons. Puregold remains committed to ensuring that the humble tindahan continues to thrive and remains a meaningful part of every community.”

The big picture

By celebrating sari-sari stores, Puregold also reinforces its commitment to inclusive growth. These outlets sustain hyperlocal economies, generate self-employment, and keep money circulating within barangays instead of flowing exclusively to large urban centers.

What’s next

Through Sari-Sari Stories and similar efforts, Puregold is signaling that its expansion strategy will remain anchored on empowering small retailers, not bypassing them. 

For sari-sari store owners, that means continued recognition as essential partners in the country’s evolving retail landscape, rather than being left behind by modern trade. — Daxim L. Lucas | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma