How to Buy Groceries from Online Supermarkets in the Philippines

Online grocery shopping in the Philippines has expanded rapidly since 2020, giving expats a practical way to skip traffic, crowded aisles, and long checkout queues. This guide covers the main platforms, delivery apps, specialty stores for imported goods, and what to expect from each.

If there’s one thing in abundance in the Philippines, it’s tasty food. From cheap and cheerful roadside barbecues to vendors selling the nation’s dish adobo, it’s easy to get your fill of Filipino cuisine.

Ordering groceries virtually is more convenient and ultimately cheaper long-term than buying in-store, especially with rising fuel costs. It also saves the stress of traveling through traffic.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of In-Store Grocery Shopping

If you’re an expat living in the Philippines, grocery shopping can be a mixed bag. On one hand, you immerse yourself in local culture and get to know your neighbors, as many stores are small and family-run. On the other hand, it can be frustrating, especially if you’re not used to the chaotic nature of major supermarkets.

The Benefits

• Product availability: Physical stores usually have a wider range of products than their online counterparts, which is useful when looking for specific items or brands not easily found online.
• Freshness: You can check perishable items like fruits and vegetables for quality before buying.
• Lower costs: No delivery fee means your final bill may be cheaper in-store. Expats with vehicles or access to jeepneys can keep cost of living in the Philippines low this way.

The Drawbacks

• Traffic: In and around major cities, gridlock is common. It’s not unusual to spend an hour stuck in traffic traveling just a few kilometers.
• Language barrier: Most people speak English, but miscommunications happen.
• Crowded stores: Philippine supermarkets fill up fast in the evenings and on weekends, with long checkout queues.
• Slow service: Transactions at the till tend to take longer than in Western countries.

Online Grocery Shopping in the Philippines

Online shopping has grown steadily in the Philippines since the pandemic accelerated adoption. The rise of eCommerce, smartphone use, and delivery infrastructure has made ordering groceries from home a practical choice for most urban residents.

Online grocery platforms range from major supermarket chains with their own delivery services to aggregator apps and marketplaces that connect small local businesses to buyers.

Best Online Grocery Stores

SM Group: Savemore, SM Hypermarket, and SM Supermarket

SM Supermarket covers all three SM retail brands: Savemore, SM Hypermarket, and SM Supermarket. They sell everything from appliances and clothes to books and groceries at the same prices as their in-store items. Their imported section is particularly strong, organizing items by country of origin — useful if you’re hunting for specific foreign brands.

Discounts change weekly. Examples of typical promotions:

• ₱80 off when you spend a minimum of ₱400 on Selecta ice cream
• Free delivery on orders over ₱3,000
• Free spaghetti on orders over ₱1,500

The website layout is clean and easy to navigate, with food categories listed on the left side. The main downside is loading speed. New accounts require registration before purchase, and adding items to your cart can take longer than expected during peak times.

• Minimum order: None
• Delivery: Same-day and up to 5-day pre-scheduled slots

Waltermart

Waltermart’s online grocery site covers local staples and a solid selection of Asian condiments and ingredients, including Thai curry paste, dried seaweed, and Korean ramen brands. Coverage is the main limitation: only 38 stores nationwide participate, and delivery requires being within a 10 to 15 km radius of a participating branch.

The website is functional but navigation is dated — you need to type in your city manually rather than selecting from a dropdown, and barangay options don’t auto-populate.

• Minimum order: ₱1,000
• Delivery: Same-day

LazMart — Lazada’s Grocery Store

Lazada’s grocery store, LazMart, has a clean interface and stocks household staples alongside a reasonable range of international products. The pricing trap to watch for: delivery is calculated per item, not per order. A ₱10,000 order can still incur ₱300 to ₱400 in shipping fees depending on how many individual items are in the cart.

Delivery typically takes 2 to 3 days. A decent option if timeline is flexible and you’re mindful of the per-item shipping cost.

• Minimum order: None
• Delivery: 2 to 3 days

MetroMart

MetroMart is an aggregator service rather than a standalone store. It partners with a wide network of retailers including Robinsons Supermarket, Rustan’s Marketplace, S&R Membership Shopping, Shopwise, and Farmers Market, letting you shop from multiple stores in a single order.

Farmers Market on MetroMart sells direct from producers, so fresh produce quality tends to be high. The delivery fee starts at ₱88, the website loads fast, and same-day slots are available. For most expats in Metro Manila or Cebu, MetroMart is the most well-rounded option among the mainstream platforms.

• Minimum order: ₱1,000
• Delivery: Same-day and five-day pre-order

How Long Does Online Delivery Take?

Most platforms offer time slot selection during checkout. Typical delivery windows:

• Waltermart: 8 AM–11 AM, 11 AM–2 PM, 2 PM–5 PM, 5 PM–8 PM
• MetroMart: One-hour windows from 10 AM to 10 PM
• SM: One-hour windows from 8 AM to 10 PM

LazMart does not offer time slot selection. Instead, orders placed on a given day arrive 2 to 3 days later, between 8 AM and 10 PM.

For mom-and-pop stores ordering via Lalamove or GrabMart, estimated delivery is typically 25 to 50 minutes, though traffic and weather affect actual times. You can also schedule delivery for a later slot using the app’s scheduling feature.

Recommended Online Grocery Stores by City and Province

Metro Manila

Metro Manila has the fullest coverage. All major platforms operate here:

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• LazMart
• Shopee Supermarket
• MetroMart
• SM (Savemore, Hypermarket, and Supermarket)
• Waltermart

Specialty health stores like The Super Grocer and Healthy Options also deliver throughout the capital region.

Cebu

Cebu City has good coverage from major chains:

• SM Supermarket
• Robinsons Supermarket
• Landers Superstore
• MetroMart

Waltermart does not deliver in Cebu. Gaisano Grand Malls offer a Shop-&-Go service via Viber for Cebuano residents.

Davao

Major chains in Davao include MetroMart, Lazada, Robinsons, Foodmart, and SM. For local options:

• NCCC Online Store — a large local mall that stocks groceries alongside clothes and electronics.
• Farm to Doorstep — delivers fresh, locally sourced produce directly from the farm.

Quezon City

As part of Metro Manila, Quezon City has the same full range of services, including Shopee Supermarket, Lazada, MetroMart, Waltermart, and SM. Specialty stores like Healthy Options and The Green Grocer Manila also deliver here.

Cavite

Cavite is a province on Metro Manila’s outskirts with solid coverage from MetroMart, Waltermart, Robinsons, The Marketplace, and SM.

Local Street Vendors

The Philippines has no shortage of local vendors selling fresh produce, meat, eggs, and essentials at prices well below supermarket rates. Most don’t advertise delivery, but many are willing to arrange it if you build a relationship with them and offer a small fee. This works particularly well in residential areas and for expats living outside central city zones.

International and Ethnic Stores for Expats

Most Philippine supermarkets carry an international section, but the range is limited. If you’re after a specific foreign brand or cuisine, specialty stores are a better bet.

Landers

Landers is the closest thing to Costco in the Philippines — a wholesale club selling groceries (often in bulk), furniture, and appliances, with one of the strongest international product selections in the country. Annual membership costs ₱900. Exclusive items include Beyond Burger plant-based patties, Badia spices, Double Rainbow ice cream, and international health and beauty brands.

Gerald.PH

Gerald.ph specializes in organic and natural products, with a focus on French imports: bakery items, cheese, charcuterie, foie gras, escargots, and baguettes. Run by a French expat who moved to the Philippines, the store curates items that are not commonly available elsewhere in the country.

Local, Organic, and Artisan Shops

Many local, organic, and artisan food businesses in the Philippines operate primarily through social media or Facebook groups rather than conventional websites. Word of mouth and community networks are the best way to find them.

The Superfood Grocer (for vegans and vegetarians)

The Superfood Grocer carries plant-based products (imported and locally sourced), superfoods, grains, chia seeds, and green tea powders. They manufacture many products in-house, keeping quality control tight. Their vegan ice cream brand, Super Scoops, is a popular pick.

Healthy Options

With 30 stores across the Philippines, Healthy Options is one of the most accessible health food chains in the country. Their online store covers gluten-free products, high-protein snacks, organic produce, seeds, herbs, and imported cereals. Delivery for Metro Manila typically arrives in 1 to 2 days; outside Manila, allow 6 to 15 days.

Pililokal

Pililokal is an online marketplace for Filipino-made goods: artisan food products, condiments, sauces, and household items produced by small businesses, family operations, and individual creators. If supporting local producers matters to you, this is where to start.

Halal Online Stores

There is no single dedicated halal online grocery store in the Philippines, but Muslim-owned businesses do operate online. The Halal Meat Supplier Metro Manila Facebook community is a good starting point for sourcing halal meat in bulk and finding supplier contacts. As with any community marketplace, do your research and verify sellers before purchasing.

Supplements

Supplement prices at mall stores tend to run higher than at smaller online retailers. For protein powders, BCAAs, and sports nutrition products, WheyKingSupplements is a well-regarded local option.

WheyKingSupplements

Check their main website or search for a local Facebook page near you. High-quality protein powders typically run ₱2,400 to ₱3,500. Many local branches accept orders via DM and can arrange same-day delivery through Lalamove or Grab.

Delivery Apps: GrabMart, FoodPanda, Angkas, and GoCart

For fast, on-demand delivery, dedicated apps often outperform supermarket websites in terms of speed and ease of use.

GrabMart

GrabMart connects you to nearby partner stores for delivery in around 30 minutes. Grab also operates GrabSupermarket, a dark store model offering a broader product range with next-day delivery — useful when you want a wider selection without the 30-minute premium.

FoodPanda

FoodPanda delivers from restaurants but also from stores like Pan de Manila, Marks and Spencer, Meat Depot, and other retail partners. Worth checking if you need something specific from a store that isn’t on Grab.

Angkas

Originally a motorcycle taxi app, Angkas now handles errands and deliveries for groceries, medicine, and hot meals. A motorcyclist picks up and delivers your order, making it fast in areas with heavy four-wheel traffic.

GoCart

GoCart lets you shop from Robinsons, Shopwise, and The MarketPlace through a single app, then delivers your combined order. A convenient option if those chains are your preferred stores.

For more on living costs and day-to-day life as an expat, see our guide to moving to the Philippines and our overview of cost of living in the Philippines.

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