State Trading Organization (STO) has officially opened the first floor of its expanded People’s Choice Hypermarket in Malé, marking another step in the company’s efforts to broaden its retail offerings and create new business opportunities for local suppliers.
The newly developed floor was inaugurated by Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Transport Mohamed Saeed during a special ceremony attended by government officials, STO executives and business representatives.
The opening forms part of STO’s wider transformation of People’s Choice into a modern hypermarket concept, a project launched earlier this year to expand product variety and provide additional shelf space for both international and local brands.
Visitors to the newly opened floor will find a broad range of consumer products from globally recognized brands alongside goods supplied by Maldivian businesses. Among the local companies featured are Peekaboo and Procure Plus, which have been given space within the expanded retail facility.
Speaking during the event, STO officials highlighted the company’s ongoing efforts to diversify its services while supporting private sector participation in the retail market.
The ceremony also served as a platform for the introduction of several new products to the Maldivian market.
STO Chairperson Amir Mansoor officially launched the Sunmi brand, while STO Managing Director Shimad Ibrahim introduced Philips air conditioning units, expanding the range of products available through the company’s retail network.
The expansion comes as STO continues to strengthen its position as one of the Maldives’ largest retail and wholesale providers. In recent years, the state-owned enterprise has invested heavily in modernizing its operations, expanding outlet networks and improving customer access to a wider selection of products.
People’s Choice has evolved from a traditional retail outlet into a larger hypermarket-style shopping destination, offering groceries, household items, electronics, appliances and lifestyle products under one roof.
The opening of the first floor is expected to further enhance the shopping experience for customers while creating additional opportunities for businesses seeking to market their products through STO’s retail channels.
STO currently operates numerous outlets and service centers across the Maldives, providing a wide range of essential goods and services to communities nationwide.
Company officials described the latest expansion as another milestone in STO’s ongoing growth strategy and its efforts to strengthen the retail sector while delivering greater convenience and choice to consumers.
