Sari-sari stores see sales boom in energy drinks, iced tea as temperatures soar

Sari-sari stores see soaring sales in energy drink, iced tea in 2024 as the Philippines brave hottest year, according to a study by tech startup Packworks.

MANILA, Philippines — Sari-sari stores across the country recorded a surge in sales of energy drinks and iced tea in 2024  as Filipinos coped with the hottest year on record, data from tech startup Packworks showed.

Data released Tuesday from its Sari IQ business intelligence platform, which tracks over 1 million monthly transactions from more than 300,000 sari-sari stores nationwide, showed that sales of the energy drink brand Sting of PepsiCo hit P34 million in gross merchandise value (GMV) in 2024.

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This is equivalent to an 83-percent growth from the P18 million in 2023.

Meanwhile, Nestle’s powdered iced tea brand Nestea saw a 76-percent spike in sales, with GMV rising to P30 million from P17 million the previous year.

Packworks said both products saw sales peak in March 2024, aligning with the onset of the dry season declared by the state weather bureau PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration).

“Our data underscores the critical role sari-sari stores play in providing immediate relief and meeting the ongoing demand for essential refreshment, especially during the hotter months,” Packworks Chief Data Officer Andoy Montiel said in a statement.

“As forecasts predict continued warm periods this year, it solidifies the sari-sari stores’ role as a crucial touchpoint for consumers nationwide, especially for regions that are sweltering through warmer conditions,” he added.