Village Connect
SM continues to champion the growth of medium, small, and micro enterprises (MSMEs) currently engaging over 100,000 MSMEs across the group. In its retail business, SM Markets serves as a good platform for local businesses, forming strategic partnerships and providing community support to over 900 MSMEs across the country.
It provides an ideal marketplace for these enterprises, leveraging the foot traffic of four million daily visitors to its malls. This extensive reach allows MSMEs to showcase their products and services to a broad audience, supporting their growth in tandem with SM’s expansion.
SM Markets is committed to fostering these partnerships through various initiatives. “Our support for small businesses is comprehensive,” said Jojo Tagbo, President of SM Supermarket. “We host weekly bazaars where MSMEs can present their products without the burden of space rental fees. Instead, they contribute a percentage of their earnings to SM, providing them with an affordable avenue to connect with more customers.”
A platform for small businesses
Christine Biongcog of Under the Sea Products Marketing Corp. exemplifies this successful collaboration. Her family has been supplying seafood to SM Markets for 22 years, starting from a small stall in the public market. Her journey with SM began in 2002 when she submitted a letter of intent to supply seafood to the newly opened SM Cagayan de Oro. Today, Under the Sea Products has expanded its reach, supplying to seven SM Markets branches across Cagayan de Oro, Davao, and Zamboanga.
Biongcog credits SM Markets for its significant assistance, noting, “SM provided us with a larger space compared to our previous stalls, which required us to be more resourceful and adaptable.” SM Markets also offers financial support through BDO Unibank, facilitating easier access to capital needed for business growth.
Supporting local economies
SM Markets is dedicated to sourcing from regional suppliers to bolster local economies. “As we expand into provincial areas, we prioritize finding local suppliers to enhance efficiency and support regional growth,” Tagbo explained. “This approach ensures we can offer a diverse range of products and improve the overall shopping experience for our customers.”
In Davao, Royal Breadhaus, founded by Emil and Vivian Sison, has been a supplier since 2001. Vivian Sison’s commitment to product innovation has allowed Royal Breadhaus to supply to 10 SM Markets branches. “Our partnership with SM has been a synergy of creativity and market responsiveness, helping us develop products that cater to evolving consumer preferences,” said RJ Briones, Royal Breadhaus Marketing Head.
Growing the business by understanding the market
Sanitary Care Products Asia, Inc. (Sanicare) illustrates another success story. Founded in 1996, Sanicare began its partnership with SM Markets in 2000, shortly after the Asian Financial Crisis. Renato Sio, Sanicare’s founder, credits the opportunity provided by SM Markets for their growth. “SM allowed us to start with a small shelf space, which was crucial for us as a startup. Our product’s success was driven by its quality and consumer demand,” Sio shared.
From a single shelf in an SM Market in Megamall B, Sanicare’s products are now available nationwide. Sio’s dedication to quality, inspired by his wife’s needs, has driven the brand’s expansion and success in the market.
The continued collaboration between SM Markets and MSMEs helps drive local economic growth and enriches the shopping experience for its customers.
