Japanese convenience chain Ministop, through local operator Robinsons Convenience Stores, will open 100 new stores in the Philippines this year.

The company opened its 400th store last month and it says it is targeting to have 500 stores trading by year end.

Ministop is the second largest convenience chain in the Philippines after 7-Eleven, which has 1000 stores across the country and aims to hit 2000 stores in three to four years.

It also faces competition from another Japanese convenience chain FamilyMart, which is starting to build a network in the Philippines after forging a partnership with SIAL CVS Retailers, a unit of property and mall developer Ayala Land.

Convenience chains are expected to expand further in the Philippines because of its higher younger convenience-seeking population.