Ninja Mart Bridges Logistics, Digital Tools and Offline Support to Strengthen Malaysia’s Kedai Runcit Economy

   

Ninja Mart Bridges Logistics, Digital Tools and Offline Support to Strengthen Malaysia’s Kedai Runcit Economy

Kuala Lumpur, 30 June 2026 — Malaysia’s neighbourhood kedai runcit, or traditional grocery stores, continue to play an important role in serving local communities, even as modern trade, convenience chains and e-commerce reshape the country’s retail landscape.

The continued relevance of retail is reflected in the country’s broader trade performance. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, retail trade registered sales of RM71.0 billion in April 2026, growing 6.3% year-on-year. The performance reflects activity across a wide range of consumer-facing retail formats, including non-specialised stores such as hypermarkets, mini markets and convenience stores.

At the same time, neighbourhood retail is also gaining renewed relevance as consumers continue to look for convenient access to everyday essentials closer to home. Government initiatives such as Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), which aims to expand participation among small grocery retailers to 10,000 outlets by end-2026, further reinforce the role of local stores in supporting community-level access to basic goods.

Yet, despite their relevance, many kedai runcit and general trade retailers continue to face day-to-day operational pressures. These include managing customer demand with limited manpower, coordinating with multiple suppliers, keeping fast-moving essentials available, handling deliveries and returns, and adapting to changing consumer expectations amid competition from modern retail and online platforms.

For brands and suppliers, the general trade ecosystem also presents a different set of challenges. The channel remains highly fragmented, with thousands of independent retailers spread across neighbourhoods, smaller towns and rural communities. This makes it harder for brands to reach stores consistently, manage merchandising execution, maintain product availability and gain visibility over outlet-level performance.

Denise Ang, Country Head, Ninja Mart Malaysia, said, “The future of general trade will depend on practical solutions that reflect how traditional retailers actually operate. Kedai runcit owners are more than just retailers. They are part of the communities they serve, and they understand the daily needs of their customers in a way that is deeply local and relationship-driven.

Supporting general trade requires solutions that work for both brands and retailers. For brands, the challenge is not just about reaching more stores. It is about reaching them consistently, efficiently and with better visibility. For retailers, the need is more practical — easier ordering, reliable support, access to relevant products and help in managing everyday store operations. Ninja Mart sits at the intersection of these needs.”

Against this backdrop, Ninja Mart believes the way forward lies in a hybrid support model that combines digital tools, logistics capabilities and on-ground relationships. Ninja Mart shared these insights during a recent media session at Al-Amin Fresh Mart in Kampung Kuantan, Klang, where members of the media experienced first-hand the daily realities of running a neighbourhood kedai runcit.

Through its B2B distribution platform, Ninja Mart connects brands and suppliers to a diverse network of retailers across general trade, modern trade, petrol marts and HORECA channels. Its model combines app-based ordering, sales team, logistics support, and on-ground assistance to help brands reach retailers more effectively while supporting store owners with practical day-to-day needs.

Ninja Mart currently supports more than 16,000 active retail outlets, providing brands with access to a wider retail network while helping retailers simplify areas such as product ordering, delivery coordination, order enquiries, returns and claims, and store-level support.

As Malaysia’s retail landscape continues to evolve, general trade will remain an integral part of the country’s retail ecosystem, particularly in communities where proximity, trust and everyday access continue to shape consumer behaviour. By combining modern supply chain capabilities with the relationship-based realities of grassroots retail, Ninja Mart aims to help brands reach more retailers while supporting kedai runcit owners with tools and services that fit the way they work.

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