Further establishing our institution as a formidable force in the industry, and as the leading independent oil company in the country, Phoenix Petroleum counts 2018 as a banner year that marks our ascent to more successes, all the while offering more value to Filpinos, and promising greater opportunities for more communities.
We opened 70 new stations in 2018, including our largest one, situated in Banilad, Cebu. We also better focused our aim for better customer experience through the BEST Program—highlighting Bright and clean stations, Easy and fast service, and Serviceable facilities that Touch the hearts of our customers—with the proven side-effect of significantly increased sales.
In its first full year under Phoenix Petroleum, the LPG business grew its volume by 23%. It continued to aggressively expand in Luzon, where we have appointed new dealers and opened 48 SUPER LPG Hubs.
In May, we acquired Pos!ble.net, a digital payment platform, which enables and facilitates financial transactions such as prepaid load, bills, and money remittances via a point-of-sale device. The acquisition officially allowed us to enter the microfinance industry and consequently supports our business operations including synergies on our retail network, as well as our subsidiaries and affiliates.
A year after we acquired FamilyMart, we launched its Generation 2 stores which brought larger kitchens, dining areas, new crew uniforms, and more expansive food offerings as its major innovations. The first store of such kind opened on August 8 in Clark Global City, followed by the renovation of the first FamilyMart store in the country in Glorietta, Makati, and other existing stores in the metro.