MerryMart opens largest standalone store

The MerryMart Group of tycoon Edgar “Injap” Sia II  has opened in Tarlac its largest standalone grocery, marking the 135th branch of its supermarket, with expansion in eight more on the line.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, MerryMart said it opened a supermarket in Ayala Cresendo Estate in Tarlac, sprawled on 4,032 square meters of land to make it the biggest of its kind.

The newest branch also provides the group with its 135th outlet, as it aims to grow its grocery network in the provinces.

MerryMart plans to open supermarkets in Antique; Palo, Leyte; San Carlos City, Negros Occidental; and Bay, Laguna. Further, it aims its reach to cover Koronadal City, General Trias, Cavite; Ormoc City; and Ozamiz City.

Among its current network, MerryMart enjoys the largest market share in Capiz. On top of this, it is gaining consumer traction in nearby areas, positioning it to compete with leading players.

Aside from widening its footprint, MerryMart said it is always on the hunt for companies to buy for as long as they support its future growth.

“MerryMart continues its organic expansion and continues to be on the lookout for opportunities in acquiring companies in the consumer space that have strategic fit to its long-term growth,” the company said.

The newest MerryMart branch, initially slated to be opened in July, is equipped with sustainable equipment like roof solar panels, LED lighting fixtures, bicycle slots and charging provisions for electric vehicles.

MerryMart is undertaking a group-wide expansion to achieve its target of raising P150 billion in revenue in 2030. Originally, the goal was placed at just P120 billion, but the company adjusted it earlier this year.

As of 2023, MerryMart operates 126 stores nationwide. Its portfolio is composed of MerryMart Grocery, MerryMart Express and MerryMart Wholesale, together with other ventures, including Injap Supermart, M Supplies and Carlos SuperDrug.

The company may be reliant on its brick-and-mortar format, but it is also penetrating the digital space through an app launched by MerryMart Wholesale.

For 2024, MerryMart expects its e-commerce channel to grow to 500,000 users and carry 15,000 products for businesses and households.

Source: Philstar

PHL adult book readership declines to 42%

UNESCO marks April 23 as World Book and Copyright Day.

Adult readership in the Philippines declined to 42% in 2023 from 54% in 2012, according to a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) and the National Book Development Board (NBDB).

The National Readership Survey (NRS) found that only 42% of adults (aged 18 and above) have read non-school books in the past year, while 47% of children (aged 8-17) did so.

Social media played a significant role in the decline of the readership of Filipinos, the NBDB concluded.

“There are many distractions for the decline — social media, devices, environment,” according to NBDB Division Chief Officer in Charge Kevin Ansel S. Dy.

“There has been a steady decline in the readership of Filipinos, and we find it very alarming,” he added.

The survey found that adults and children still prefer reading printed materials over digital. Some 74% of adults preferred reading print books, followed by newspapers (21%) and magazines (17%).

Meanwhile, 75% of children preferred reading printed books, followed by printed picture books  (27%), and printed comic books (16%).

 Adults and children also indicated a preference  for the works of Filipino authors.

2023-Readership-Survey-Publication-3.pdf

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Source: Business World

Philippine Book Festival: Making more Filipino readers

Back for its second year is the Philippine Book Festival (PBF). The festival’s return will take place on April 25 to 28 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, and is set to bring together authors, artists, publishers, educators, and readers.

This time, it aims to showcase the richness of Philippine literature through 160 exhibitors, an extensive collection of books, and a diverse range of talks and workshops.

“The challenge is making people aware of what books are available. This is something we saw in our national readership survey. Although there is a concerning outcome saying that there is a dramatic drop in readership, one of the reasons people are saying that is because they lack access,” said Dante Francis M. Ang, chairman of the National Book Development Board (NBDB). These concerns led to the PBF last year.

“It was a dynamic gathering of publishing professionals, educators, families, students, and creatives. This year, fairgoers can expect much of the same exciting programming except with a much bigger scope,” Mr. Ang said at festival’s press conference on April 3 in Makati City.

The program lineup includes book signing and meet-and-greet sessions with authors like Gwy Saludes, Ambeth Ocampo, and Ricky Lee. “Dahling Nick: A Tribute to National Artist Nick Joaquin” will honor the renowned writer.

Meanwhile, a session called “Aklat Para Sa Accla: New Trends in Boys Love and Girls Love” will be dedicated to modern gay and lesbian romance fiction. Many workshops are also in store, like Patti Ramos’ zine-making workshop and Bunny Luz’s workshop on crafting independently produced “fanzines.”

Mr. Ang said that the event is meant to cover all bases: “The PBF is a program that, on the one hand, is about celebrating Philippine culture, but on the other hand, encompasses our agency’s long-term plans: improve access for every Filipino reader, democratize distribution, and enable our publishers and authors to keep producing Philippine books.”

The National Library’s Rare Book Collection will feature a new selection of rare manuscripts and facsimiles while the Book Bar will focus on award-winning books.

Cosplay Filipiniana will invite fans to dress up as their beloved Philippine literary characters while Guhit Pambata will highlight the works of children’s book illustrators.

Four sections divide the festival: Kid Lit, just for children; Komiks, placing the spotlight on Pinoy komiks; Booktopia, where one can find both fiction and non-fiction titles; and Aral Aklat, devoted to textbooks and educational materials.

Panels, puppet shows, storytelling with surprise television and movie celebrities, and live performances are also scheduled throughout the four-day festival.

On bringing the PBF to other parts of the country, Mr. Ang said that last year’s Davao leg could not be replicated this time due to NBDB being “one of the smallest agencies of the government,” making resources a challenge.

LOCAL AND FOREIGN READERSHIP

Charisse Aquino-Tugade, NBDB executive director, said at the press conference that the recent readership survey found that only 42% out of 2,400 Filipino adults have read a book in the last year.

A similar figure arose when 2,400 children across the country were surveyed, with only 46% saying yes.

“We also asked, ‘when was the last time you went to the library?’ and most people said they don’t even know where their local library is. Other choices to compete with are scrolling on phones, going to the mall,” she added.

Book Nook, one of NBDB’s programs, has been established in 100 sites around the Philippines, from remote villages in Ifugao all the way to Tawi-Tawi in Mindanao. There, the books vary in language depending on the region, to allow children in the various areas easy access to local literature.

This year, a Book Nook will also be launched in Daly City, San Francisco, California, which boasts the most concentrated population of Filipinos abroad.

“Our kids, besides lacking ready access to quality books, are not reading their own stories in their languages,” Ms. Aquino-Tugade said. “If we don’t provide a platform for our children to learn about themselves and the world they live in, they will grow up in environments shaped solely by other voices.”

This is also why the Department of Education is sending over 750 book evaluators and procurement officers from all over the country to the PBF, so they can scope and evaluate books to purchase for public school libraries.

“These teachers need a place to see these books because we don’t see them in stores. Many of our books are relegated to one Filipiniana section,” said Ms. Aquino-Tugade.

“We also tapped the event managers who are already doing this, which is Prime Trade, the ones behind the Manila International Book Fair. We’re not competitors. What we’re trying to do is create a robust market,” she added.

Mr. Ang also emphasized the Philippines’ upcoming endeavor as the Guest of Honor at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, also known as “the Olympics of books.”

“It’s the largest rights-selling event in the world, but it’s also a place where publishers and other creatives get together. We’re in the midst of preparing for that. There are a lot of possible economic returns for this,” he explained.

If all goes well, the NBDB will be able to raise the flag for Philippine publishers seeking to have their books translated in other languages and distributed abroad.

In the meantime, the PBF will be gunning to improve readership locally. The fair will be free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on April 25 to 28. For more information on the Philippine Book Festival and to register for free, visit www.philippinebookfest.com.

Source: Business World