São Paulo Food Program Reaches Two Million Visits

Level 1 (A2)

São Paulo has a public food program called Armazém Solidário. Since it started in January 2024, the city says its seven stores have recorded 2,015,060 customer visits. The stores have served 142,297 registered families. These numbers are different: one family can visit more than once. The program is for city residents with an active CadÚnico registration. It gives low-income families access to food, cleaning products, hygiene items, and some pet products at lower prices. Most prices are 30% to 50% below normal retail prices. The city compares market prices before setting them. Each customer also has daily purchase limits for some products, so the stores can serve more people.

The stores focus on fresh food and essential goods. The city reports that about 94% of the products are fresh or minimally processed. The stores do not sell soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, or ultra-processed foods. Since 2024, customers have bought almost 28.8 million items. The program has also received and distributed more than 213 tonnes of donated food through the city's Food Bank. In the first half of 2026, it recorded 526,066 visits, 16.1% more than in the same period of 2025. This growth shows that more people are using the stores. However, the figures do not prove that hunger or diet-related health problems have been solved. They show the size and use of the service. For many families, buying food at a discount can leave more money for medicine, transport, rent, or other needs. Two more stores are being prepared in southern São Paulo. The seven current units continue to operate.