THE Department of Agriculture (DA) and DALI Everyday Grocery are exploring a partnership to give farmers and cooperatives direct access to retail markets and possible contract-growing opportunities.
The DA said on Wednesday that Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. recently met with DALI board director Thirdie Icasas to discuss linking local producers with the grocery chain’s expanding network.Tiu Laurel said DALI could provide a ready market for farm products and become a contract-growing partner, helping farmers secure more stable markets, increase production and raise their incomes.DALI is seeking reliable cooperatives and farmer groups to supply highland and lowland vegetables. It is also considering warehouses near Benguet and Pangasinan to consolidate produce closer to farms before shipping it to Metro Manila stores.The hard-discount grocery chain reported having 1,403 stores serving more than 10 million customers monthly and opening roughly one store a day. It targets 1,600 stores by the end of 2026 and 16,000 by 2035.A hard discount is a retail business model focused on selling everyday food and household essentials at extremely low prices by stripping away all nonessential operational costs.Discussions also covered DA food hubs, including the planned 46-hectare Clark Food Hub and proposed facilities in Tiaong, Quezon; Lipa, Batangas; Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon; and Cebu. Cold storage near the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center was considered to support sourcing.DALI sought DA assistance with import clearances and tariffs for apples, garlic and pears, which it began importing in June. The Agriculture department said it helped process documentation that lowered a tariff from as high as 40 percent to 10 percent, but did not specify which product was covered.DA Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing and Consumer Affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra said the proposed partnership could expand market opportunities for vegetable farmers and reduce their reliance on middlemen.DALI operates in the Philippines under Hard Discount Philippines Inc., which is affiliated with Swiss parent company Dali Discount AG.
