Manila, Philippines — Amidst the damages brought by a record-breaking typhoon season in the Philippines, sari-sari stores exhibited high resilience and a signal source of supply for neighboring communities affected by storms.

This is the latest insight from Filipino tech startup Packworks.io, which analyzed over a million monthly sales transactions from more than 300,000 sari-sari stores nationwide through its business intelligence platform, Sari IQ.

Packworks analyzed 2024 historical data on sari-sari stores in some of the hardest-hit areas in the Philippines. These included Batangas in Region IV-A, Cagayan and Isabela in Region II, and Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, and Catanduanes in Region V.

Data shows that sari-sari stores in these areas recorded a 27% rise in average daily GMV and a 50% increase in transactions a month after six typhoons struck between October 23 and November 18.

The year 2024 set the record for the most decommissioned typhoon names in a single season since PAGASA began its current naming scheme in 2001. PAGASA retired eight typhoon names in 2024 because of the significant damage and destruction they caused.

Bicol Drives Sales Spike as Sari-Sari Stores Thrive After Typhoons

The Bicol region drove these sales trends, posting a combined 50% spike during a typhoon and a further 26% GMV rise afterward. Located on southeastern Luzon, the region often receives the brunt of typhoons entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility. This exposure creates an urgent need for supplies and drives greater demand for essential goods from sari-sari stores. Notably, Camarines Norte recorded a staggering 105% increase in average GMV after a typhoon struck.

“These data findings challenge the common belief that micro businesses are less resilient during bad weather conditions. Through presence and grit, our store owners have figured out how to persevere and even positively thrive amid natural calamities, creating real business value and opportunities while aiding in the community’s recovery.” said Packworks Chief Data
Officer Andoy Montiel.

Packworks’ data examined buying habits in sari-sari stores during typhoons and compared them with pre-typhoon patterns in the analyzed areas. Findings show that cigarettes and gin topped sales during typhoons, indicating continued demand for these discretionary goods even in crisis. Gin posted the highest GMV change with a 14% median increase in seven provinces, followed by cigarettes with a 12% median increase in six provinces. Easy-to-eat items also ranked high, as powdered coffee recorded a 10% GMV rise in six provinces, while biscuits posted a 2% increase in seven provinces.

Climate Change Spurs Shifts in Buying Habits and Store Resilience

Buying trends shifted further after a typhoon hit, as communities started recovery. Detergent became a top-selling item across five provinces with a 7% GMV share. This caused a temporary spike in demand for cleaning supplies among typhoon-stricken households.

“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. True to the idiom: ‘when it rains it pours’ – understanding these just-in-time, on-the-ground realities is key to informing businesses and policymakers with a prepared plan and help realize a more agile supply chain logistics to better serve communities when they need it most,” Packworks Chief Platform Officer Hubert Yap said.

According to PAGASA, an average of 20 tropical cyclones enter PAR each year, with eight to nine typhoons making landfall in the country’s regions. The country is forecast to brace for 7 to 15 tropical cyclones from September 2025 to February 2026.

For info about Sari IQ and to uncover more seasonal data trends in sari-sari stores, you may visit http://packworks.io/ or Packworks’ Facebook page to learn more.

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