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Tag: Philippines

  • Metro Manila malls love Pokemon GO for bringing increased foot traffic

    Metro Manila malls love Pokemon GO for bringing increased foot traffic

    “A few days after the Philippine launch of Pokemon GO, mall operators reported a surge in foot traffic from people hooked on the augmented reality mobile phone-based game,” reports Doris Dumlao-Abadilla in Philippine Daily Inquirer.

    Maricris Bernardino, Ayala Malls head of marketing, said, “Since the launch of Pokemon Go in the Philippines, our parks and malls have filled with Pokemon hunters. Gamers continue to play and visit our malls despite the rains.” Several unique Pokemon monsters have reportedly been found in Ayala Malls’ gardens and parks.

    For his part, Harold Brian Geronimo, assistant vice president at Megaworld Corp, noted that Eastwood City’s daily average foot traffic “more than doubled” after the launch of Pokemon GO. Geronimo added that foot traffic was also higher than McKinley Hill, Burgos Circle, and Venice Piazza. This, he explained, led to an incease in dining sales.

    It’s the same case with SM Supermalls. In fact, last Fri night, Aug 12, SM hosted a nationwide Pokemon GO “lure party” across its 50 SM Supermalls and SMDC Properties.

    CNN Philippines reports that Robinsons Malls, Araneta Center, Bonifacio High Street, UP Ayalaland Technohub, Greenfield District Central Park, The Podium Mall, and Capitol Commons also hosted lure parties last Aug 12.

  • Chooks to Go plans Asian rollout

    Chooks to Go plans Asian rollout

    The parent of Philippine chicken retailer Chooks to Go plans “a massive expansion” of its store network, at home and across Asia.

    “Filipinos overseas will soon have access to their favourite food in the Philippines or wherever they are in the Asian region with the rollout of BAVI rotisserie stores overseas this year,” said Chooks to Go parent Bounty Agro Ventures Inc (BAVI) in a statement.

    “As an industry leader, it is BAVI’s role to continue to growing its chicken commodity business, along with the massive expansion of its various brands of retail stores for freshly cooked products.”

    BAVI currently operates a chain of 1000 Chooks to Go stores across the Philippines, selling fresh oven-roasted chickens and is expanding its portfolio of brands to attract more consumers. Maro, its newest, serves freshly cooked viands in CBDs and universities nationwide.

    The company’s Reyal brand, which launched last year selling ‘butterfly cut’ chicken with honey garlic sauce, chili oil and garlic bits, expects to have 100 stores trading by the end of this year.

    Uling Roasters now has 200 outlets.

    In total, BAVI now operates more than 1300 stores across its brands, and sells about 100,000 chickens a day.

    The company did not reveal how it would enter overseas markets, or which countries were at the top of the priority list.

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  • Metro Retail to invest P10 B to double network

    Metro Retail to invest P10 B to double network

    The Gaisano family’s Metro Retail Stores Group Inc. (MRSGI) is pouring in P10 billion to double the size of its network in the next five years.

    The plan is to increase the network to 800,000 square meters in terms of gross floor area.

    So far, the company has already secured about 40 percent of the target, which will open in the next two years.

    In the first half, MRSGI has added 30,000 sqm of GFA, bringing its store network to 49 covering 24 supermarkets, 13 hypermarkets and 12 department stores.

    The company reported a net income after tax of P262 million in the first six months of the year, up 24 percent year on year.

    MRSGI posted a 10-percent all-stores growth, fueled by the strong performance of the hypermarket segment. It registered same stores sales growth of five percent.

    Frank Gaisano, chairman and CEO of MRSGI, said the company would continue to cement its presence in the Visayas region by capitalizing on its existing locations and adding new stores in prime locations.

    “Despite challenging conditions, we are encouraged by our bottomline and same store sales growth led by our hypermarket format. This was achieved by our familiarity with the Visayas region and the markets that we serve,” Gaisano said.

    The company has partnered with property giant Ayala Land Inc. for the establishment of its stores in four new Ayala commercial developments.

    These comprise a department store and supermarket in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental; a supermarket in Iloilo City, a supermarket in Cebu City, and a department store and supermarket in Pasig City.

    MRSGI likewise entered into a lease agreement with a local government unit in Negros Oriental to set up its first store in the province.

    For its supply chain and logistics requirement, MRSGI inaugurated a distribution facility in Cebu with advanced storage and technology features.

    Gaisano remains optimistic about its growth prospects.

    “The continued development and growth in the country this year as well as the resilient OFW remittances and BPO industry are fueling domestic consumption. Aligned with this development, we are ahead of schedule in doubling our footprint by 2020, with more than 40 percent of this target already currently secured,” Gaisano said.

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  • Jollibee sales strongest in years

    Jollibee sales strongest in years

    Jollibee Foods Corp (JFC) has reported that its system-wide sales grew by 15.1 per cent in the second quarter compared to sales for the same period of 2015.

    For the first half of the year, sales of the Philippines’ largest foodservice company grew by 14.9 per cent to Php71 billion, while revenues grew 13.7 per cent to Php54 billion, compared with the first half of 2015. In the same period, profits rose by 14.8 per cent to Php3.1 billion from Php2.7 billion.

    JFC CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong said the Philippine business, which accounts for at least 80 per cent of the company’s worldwide sales, has been experiencing its strongest organic growth in many years.

    Tanmantiong said all brands performed ‘very well’ and he attributes the record growth to continued improvement in product quality and value offering supported by focused marketing campaigns, store expansion and renovation, low inflation rate, healthy growth of the country’s economy and election-related spending.

    Sales growth in the Philippines accelerated to 17.9 per cent in the second quarter, with brands growing in double digits.

    “Our business abroad had mixed performance. Southeast Asia grew by 37 per cent, led by Singapore with 56 per cent and Vietnam with 49 per cent. The Middle East rose by 17 per cent and the US increased by 11 per cent. China’s sales decreased by 5.7 per cent due to competitive pressure on Yonghe King, our largest brand there,” said Tanmantiong.

    “We look forward to a strong recovery of our Yonghe King business in the months ahead with the launch of new products with high value and taste scores supported by strong marketing campaigns and continuously building  a significant business in the People’s Republic of China and other parts  of the world.”

    JFC CFO Ysmael Baysa said:  “We look forward to continued strong profit growth while preparing for likely higher inflation rate in 2017 in the Philippines and other parts of the world and improving the profitability of our joint venture businesses.”

    JFC has a 50 per cent  interest in the following joint ventures with the number of stores indicated: Highlands Coffee (Vietnam, Philippines) 131, Pho 24 (Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Korea and Australia) 32, 12 Hotpot (China) 20, others 8; and a 40 per cent interest in Smashburger that has 366 outlets, mostly in the US.

    As of June 30, JFC was operating 2528 restaurant outlets in the country: Jollibee 939, Chowking 457, Greenwich 237, Red Ribbon 378, Mang Inasal 455 and Burger King 62. Abroad, it had 655 stores: Yonghe King (China) 321, Hong Zhuang Yuan (China) 40, San Pin Wang (China) 59, Dunkin’ Donuts (China) 4, Jollibee 151 (US 33, Vietnam 79, Brunei 14, Saudi Arabia 10, Qatar 2, Kuwait 4, Hong Kong 1, Singapore 4,  Bahrain 1 and UAE 3), Red Ribbon in the US 33, Chowking 44 (US 16, UAE 20, Qatar 4, Oman 2, Kuwait 1 and Saudi Arabia 1), Jinja Bar (US) 3.

    The JFC Group has 3183 stores worldwide.

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  • Globe to provide free Wi-Fi in LRT1 stations

    Globe to provide free Wi-Fi in LRT1 stations

    The Philippines’ Globe Telecom has agreed to provide free Wi-Fi services in all 20 stations of metro Manila’s Light Rail Transit System-Line 1 (LRT1).

    The company has agreed to provide Wi-Fi services to the roughly 400,000 daily LRT-1 passengers as well as Light Rail Manila Corp (LRMC) employees.

    Globe will also provide a fiber network extending the length of the system, covering all LRT-1 stations and LRMC’s depot in Pasay City, and deploy cell sites in each station to improve wireless connectivity.

    Globe Network Technical Group’s SVP for program governance Joel Agustin said the company will use its newly-acquired spectrum in the 700-MHz, 1800-MHz and 2600-MHz bands to provide the capacity required to handle the massive mobile traffic volumes at the stations.

    “As the purveyor of the Filipino digital lifestyle, we, at Globe recognize customer demand for constant connectivity even as they are on the go,” he said. “We are confident that the deployment of free Wi-Fi services in all LRT stations will bring better communication or even improve work productivity for our customers.”

    The operator separately announced that data traffic through the Globe Telecom network grew 35% year-on-year in the first half of 2016 to 151 petabtyes.

    Mobile data revenues surged 46% over the same period to 17.8 billion pesos ($3.66 billion), the operator revealed in its recent results. This comprised 39% of total mobile revenues, up from 27% in 1H15.

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  • Globe, PLDT cleared to consolidate SMC case

    Globe, PLDT cleared to consolidate SMC case

    The Philippines’ Court of Appeals has approved an application from the nation’s two major operators to consolidate their legal challenge against the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) over their acquisition of the telecoms assets of conglomerate San Miguel Corporation.

    Both Globe and PLDT have petitioned the court to compel the PCC declare the San Miguel transaction as “deemed approved.”

    The PCC is conducting a comprehensive review of the potential impact of the acquisition, which includes large allocations of spectrum, on competition and the public benefit.

    The regulatory body had been opposing efforts by the two operators to consolidate their petition into a single case.

    Globe general counsel Froilan Castelo said the court’s decision contradicts the PCC’s claim that the operators have been engaged in forum shopping.

    “Globe has followed the rules, and that motion to consolidate is just in accordance with Rule 31 of the Rules of Court,” he said.

    “This is only but fitting as all Globe’s actions on this matter are well within the bounds of the rules…  We are disappointed that it is the PCC itself that does not follow the rules – the rules of court when it opposes the consolidation of the cases; and their own rules.”

    Castelo also disputed the PCC’s claim that the operators have been uncooperative during the investigation process. He said Globe has cooperated fully with the government body, providing more information than required.

    “These submissions were done in good faith and went beyond what the PCC actually requires by their own rules.  In addition to these, Globe even sought a dialogue with the PCC to explain its position and answer any concern the PCC may have regarding the transaction,” he said.

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  • Is Nike golf equipment journey ending?

    Is Nike golf equipment journey ending?

    Nike is phasing out its golf equipment business to focus on shoes and apparel.

    The company has announced it is accelerating its footwear and apparel business and will transition out of Nike golf equipment range – including clubs, balls and bags.

    “We’re committed to being the undisputed leader in golf footwear and apparel,” says Trevor Edwards, president, Nike Brand. “We will achieve this by investing in performance innovation for athletes and delivering sustainable profitable growth for Nike Golf.”

    The global giant said it will continue to partner with more of the world’s best golfers as part of its changed golfing segment strategy.

    “Athletes like Tiger, Rory and Michelle drive tremendous energy for the game and inspire consumers worldwide,” says Daric Ashford, president of Nike Golf.nike golf

    “Over the past year the MM Fly Blade Polo, the Flyknit Chukka and Air Zoom 90 have all connected strongly with golfers. We’ll continue to ignite excitement with our athletes and deliver the best of Nike for the game.”

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  • PLDT opens Philippines’ biggest data center

    PLDT opens Philippines’ biggest data center

    Philippine service provider PLDT has opened the country’s biggest data center at major business district Makati City.

    The new facility has been built to serve a wide range of organizations, particularly those handling vital data such as banks, business process outsourcing (BPO) firms, IT and content providers and government institutions.

    Set up by PLDT subsidiary ePLDT, the newest VITRO Data Center sits on a nearly two-hectare property with 3,600-rack capacity. It is equipped with systems and facilities to guarantee continuous operations, ensuring that businesses can utilize robust and scalable digital infrastructure, as well as world-class 24/7 technical support capabilities.

    “PLDT is investing heavily in our VITRO data centers as we believe that these facilities are one of the basic building blocks of the country’s digital economy. This data center will be a vital resource for companies as they ramp up their own digital services,” said PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.

    The new earthquake-resistant, purpose-built data center in Makati is built on solid ground without seismic faults within its proximity. In addition, special architectural techniques and materials planning were implemented to provide the data center with fire-rated concrete walls and flood-protected design.

    As a result, VITRO Makati is rated to withstand earthquakes up to intensity eight in the Richter scale. The data center is also compliant with global design standards.

    “’PLDT recognizes how vital it is for enterprises to ensure stable operations despite changes in the external environment. The need for scalable and secure hosting facilities to house and manage critical platforms is also growing in importance as the enterprise becomes more data-driven as a result of continuous digital transformation initiatives,” said PLDT executive vice president and ePLDT president and CEO Eric R. Alberto.

    To address the growing concern over digital security, VITRO Makati offers one of the most secure and impenetrable structures in the Philippines with an eight-layer security design, guaranteeing that data and applications will always be protected.

    Each major component of the facility is configured with redundant counterparts in place that seamlessly operate to anticipate adverse events, including power generators and  Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) units, among others.

    As part of the VITRO network of data centers, VITRO Makati also serves as a carrier-neutral Internet Exchange facility that provides numerous IP peering services, enabling access to local and international content.

    VITRO Makati is also a Nexcenter-certified facility, allowing its clients to use globally standardized Nexcenter services of world leader NTT Com at some 140 locations in 84 cities of 19 countries, in addition to NTT Com’s Arcstar Universal One private-network service, which is already available in the Philippines and which is largely used by the country’s BPO industry.

    “As the world becomes even more digitally connected, Filipino enterprises must leverage on new technologies to ensure the security and resilience of their operations. PLDT’s digital platforms can enable enterprises to take advantage of disruptive technologies, secure their operations, and promote growth in their businesses,” said Alberto.

    The PLDT Group now operates seven data centers all over the country with a total rack capacity of nearly 7,000 to serve the needs of small, medium, and large enterprises across various industries, including banking, financial services, outsourcing, telecoms, and gaming.

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  • Globe lifts 1H16 profit by 3%

    Globe lifts 1H16 profit by 3%

    The Philippines’ Globe Telecom has reported a 3% year-on-year increase in net profit and an 11% increase in revenue for the first of the year despite heightened competitive intensity.

    The operator recorded net income of nearly 9 billion pesos ($191.4 million), on the back of revenue of 53.8 billion pesos. Mobile revenue also grew 3% year-on-year to 45.7 billion pesos.

    Globe’s prepaid brands drove revenue growth for the quarter, with TM revenues up 5% and Globe Prepaid revenues growing 3%. Postpaid revenues grew a more modest 2%.

    Mobile data service revenues swelled 46% year-on-year to 12.2 billion pesos, offsetting an 11% decline in mobile voice revenue and a 16% slump in SMS revenues. Mobile data comprised 39% of total mobile revenues for the half-year period, up from 27% a year earlier.

    Home broadband revenues meanwhile grew 49% year-on-year to 7 billion pesos, while total subscribers increased 38% over the same period to 1.14 million.

    Corporate data revenues were up 55% to 5.9 billion pesos, driven by strong demand among Philippine enterprises for data connectivity and other telecoms services.

    “We are proud that the company’s overall results in the first half remained robust amidst the heightened competitive intensity and the unique challenges and opportunities posed by increasing levels of smartphone penetration and mobile postpaid ownership in the market,” Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu commented.

    “We believe that with the aid of the additional frequencies that we have recently acquired, Globe Telecom’s leadership as the preferred brand for Filipinos’ digital lifestyle choices will be strengthened moving forward.”

    The operator recently committed to use its newly-acquired spectrum to achieve coverage of 95% of the Philippines’ municipalities and cities by end-2018.

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  • Robinsons Retail buys stake in De Oro Pacific

    Robinsons Retail buys stake in De Oro Pacific

    Robinsons Retail Holdings Incorporated has acquired a majority stake in De Oro Pacific Home Plus Depot, a big box builders hardware depot with 3-store chain in Northern Mindanao.

    The Gokongwei-led firm told the Philippine Stock Exchange that its subsidiary RHI Builders and Contractors Depot Corporation’s acquisition will add to its big box hardware portfolio.

    contract-signing-

    De Oro Pacific Home Plus Depot started operating in 1993. The stores are located in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City with combined gross floor area of approximately 9,400 square meters.

    The company also operates a 3,000-square-meter warehouse in Cagayan do Oro that supports the 3 De Oro Pacific Home Plus Depot stores.

    “The purchase of De Oro Pacific Home Plus Depot stores demonstrates the bullish stance of Robinsons Retail group in the do-it-yourself (DIY) business which is currently rising to the sustained growth of the construction sector driven by the huge backlog in residential building,” the company said.

    In June 2014, Robinsons Retail acquired RHI Builders and Contractors Depot, owner and operator of 17-big box hardware chain AM Builders Home Depot based in the Visayas.

    All stores have been renamed Robinsons Builders.

    As of end June 2016, Robinsons Retail operates 152 mall-based DIY hardware stores, including 132 Handyman Do It Best stores, 19 True Value stores, and two True Home stores.

    Robinsons Retail is one of the leading multi-format retail groups in the Philippines and enjoys market leading positions across all its business segments.

    It currently operates 10 retail formats under 6 business segments, including department stores, supermarkets, home improvement stores, convenience stores, drug stores, and specialty stores.

    For 2016, the group earlier said it plans to spend P5 billion in capital expenditures, up from P3.14 billion actual spending in 2015, as it plans to roll out more stores this year.

    The retail firm is also targeting same-store-sales growth of 2% to 3% and gross profit margin increase of between 10 to 20 basis points.

    As of end 2015, Robinsons Retail operates 1,506 stores with total gross floor area of 974,000 square meters.

  • ‘Modest’ growth for Dairy Farm International

    ‘Modest’ growth for Dairy Farm International

    Pan-Asia retailer Dairy Farm International Holdings reports “modest” sales growth for the six months ended June 30.

    Underlying profit was slightly ahead as higher contributions from food, home furnishings, restaurants and China hypermarket Yonghui offset a lower contribution from the group’s health and beauty division. The group is seeing the benefits from investments made last year.

    Sales for the period, excluding associates and joint ventures, were down 1 per cent but up 2 per cent at constant exchange rates. Sales were impacted by the closure of underperforming stores in Indonesia and Singapore.

    The operating profit was stable at US$197 million, compared with $201 million in the first half of last year.

    Under pressure

    In the food division, sales within supermarkets and hypermarkets were up 2 per cent despite deflationary pressures.

    In Hong Kong, sales increased modestly but profits were impacted by higher rental and labour costs. In Indonesia and Singapore, profitability improved despite reduced sales following store closures. Sales were flat but profits lower in Malaysia, while the Philippines had good sales growth and improved profitability.

    Convenience stores in Hong Kong and Macau performed satisfactorily in a difficult trading environment, while overall sales in Singapore were flat because of the cutback in stores yet sales were positive and profits higher.

    Store expansion continued in mainland China, and there was good sales and profits growth.

    In the health and beauty division, sales improved in Hong Kong but Macau and Malaysia were behind with lower profitability.

    Like-for-like sales were positive in China, and in Indonesia “encouraging” improvements were made in sales and profits following a store rationalisation program.

    In the Philippines, good progress continues to be made on the integration of Rose Pharmacy.

    In home furnishings, Ikea performed well, producing growth in both sales and profits in its three markets. Store expansion opportunities are being pursued.

    Still expanding

    In the restaurant division, Maxim’s maintained its impressive track record with higher sales and profits in China and Hong Kong. The group is growing its presence on the mainland and continues to expand its Starbucks network in Cambodia and Vietnam.

    Yonghui reported 18 per cent revenue growth in the first half.

    In February, PT Hero agreed to sell its remaining Starmart stores in Indonesia. The transfer of the stores is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter.

    In March, the group refinanced short-term borrowings of $900 million, to be used in part to invest a further $191 million in Yonghui. This will maintain the group’s 19.99 per cent interest following the placement by Yonghui of a 10 per cent shareholding to JD.com.

    In April, Maxim’s acquired the Cova patisserie and restaurant franchise in Hong Kong, which has 10 outlets. Maxim’s also opened its first The Cheesecake Factory in Shanghai Disney Town.

    At the end of June, Dairy Farm, including Yonghui, had about 6500 outlets across all formats and employed 180,000-plus people.

    “While sales and profit performance in the first half have been encouraging in a challenging
    trading environment, the outlook remains uncertain with consumer confidence fragile in most
    Markets,” says chairman Ben Keswick.

    Incorporated in Bermuda, Dairy Farm International Holdings has its primary listing on the London Stock Exchange with secondary listings in Bermuda and Singapore. The group’s businesses are managed from Hong Kong by Dairy Farm Management Services through its regional offices. Dairy Farm is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

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  • Globe targets 95% mobile coverage by end-2018

    Globe targets 95% mobile coverage by end-2018

    The Philippines’ Globe Telecom has laid out a plan to extend mobile coverage to 95% of the nation’s municipalities and cities by end-2018.

    The operator has submitted a proposal with regulator NTC to use the spectrum due to be acquired through the co-purchase of conglomerate San Miguel Corporation’s telecoms assets, including its valuable 700-MHz spectrum, to help achieve its coverage target.

    Under the plan, Globe will deploy around 4,500 SDN-enabled base stations and upgrade the capacity of its existing equipment to improve the customer experience.

    By the end of the year, Globe plans to upgrade around 30% of its network nationwide, or around 2,200 existing cell sites, to support the new spectrum.

    With the submission the operator is implicitly making the case for being allowed to proceed with the purchase of the SMC telco assets.

    Antitrust body PCC plans to conduct a full investigation into the buyout, and the chief of the new Department of Information and Communications Technology recently ordered a spectrum audit as a result of the deal.

    Globe has also committed to providing ultrafast broadband in 2 million households by 2020, and plans to invest $2 billion for its fixed broadband expansion program.

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  • Bo’s Coffee Philippines eyes expansion abroad

    Bo’s Coffee Philippines eyes expansion abroad

    Bo’s Coffee Philippines is set to expand its network of 80 stores abroad.

    “We will be opening a franchise abroad by the end of this year. Further details of which will be announced in the fourth quarter of this year,” says CEO and founder Steve Benitez

    Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Bo’s Coffee aims to open 100 stores in the Philippines.

    Recently Benitez was named global difference maker and high-impact entrepreneur by Endeavor Philippines, as he aims to make the company succeed in the global market, “bringing with him his pride for coffee, culture and country”.

    Benitez, who studied coffee preparation through seminars and conferences in the US, Europe and Asia, first opened an espresso bar at Ayala Center Cebu in 1996. He called his first standalone store ‘Coffee Club’. He later changed it to ‘Bo’s Coffee Club’, named after an Italian-American called ‘Bo’ at an exhibit in New Orleans. Benitez said Bo’s passion for coffee and commitment to quality helped shape the company culture.

    In 2001 a Cebu flagship store opened at Ayala Food & Entertainment Center and the first franchise store opened at SM City Davao. Bo’s Coffee expanded into Visayas and Luzon in the succeeding years.

    “Bo’s Coffee’s premium Philippine Coffee Origins are carefully-handpicked, single-origin beans that reflect the proud tradition of coffee growing in the Philippines. Each cup honors its source and heritage. Each cup offers great-tasting coffee from the motherland, as unique as the place from where it comes from,” says Benitez.

    “In terms of food, we offer a diverse menu of Filipino flavours such as longganisa from Vigan, smoked bangus from Sarangani. Our diverse menu, from our all-day breakfast to our dessert line, all aim to provide comfort to our sentimental taste buds, and highlight the unique flavors the Philippines has to offer,” he adds.

  • Tim Hortons plans expansion into Southeast Asia starting with the Philippines

    Tim Hortons plans expansion into Southeast Asia starting with the Philippines

    People craving a jolt of caffeine in the Philippines may soon be able to order a double-double at their local Tim Hortons.

    Restaurant Brands International, the multinational owner and operator of Tim Hortons and Burger King, said Thursday it has partnered with a group of investors to establish a master franchise joint venture company to sell the fast-food chain’s coffee and doughnuts in the Southeast Asian country.

    RBI chose the Philippines for its first stop in Southeast Asia because the country has a strong economy and a fast-growing quick-service market, said CEO Daniel Schwartz.

    The Philippines also boasts “a population that has an affinity for coffee and baked goods,” Schwartz added, including those of Tim Hortons’s, the company determined after months of market research.

    RBI didn’t say how many shops it plans to open in the Philippines. But chief financial officer Joshua Kobza said, “We aim to be a leader in the market.”

    Kobza hinted Tim Hortons would aim to match the level of some of its rivals in the local market — many of which boast hundreds of restaurants in the country, he said.

    The stores will serve many of the same staples as Canadian locations, like Timbits and iced capps, as well as some surprises, he added.

    “You’ll have a mix of the kind of products that we know and love here in Canada and some new products.”

    But details about any new offerings likely won’t be divulged until the first Philippines location opens, which Kobza and Schwartz said will open as soon as possible.

    RBI views Tim Hortons’z expansion to the Philippines as a gateway into other markets within the sub-region and other parts of the continent, noted Schwartz.

    Since Tim Hortons and Burger King merged into RBI in late 2014, the company’s been focused on taking the master franchise joint venture model that’s proved successful for Burger King and applying it to help Tim Hortons grow globally.

    “We think it’s a great opportunity,” Schwartz said.

    More international expansion announcements are expected from the company in the future, but all Schwartz will say is, “Stay tuned.”

    The restaurant chain has 4,438 restaurants, not including its 411 limited-service kiosks, as of March 31, 2016, the company’s latest quarterly report said.

    According to Tim Hortons’s 2015 annual report (when it had 25 fewer locations), the majority of those stores are in Canada, with 14.7 per cent in the U.S. and 2.6 per cent in the Middle East.

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  • Hi Brunch Philippines to debut in Robinsons

    Hi Brunch Philippines to debut in Robinsons

    Expanding for the first time outside its home market of Korea, cafe chain Hi Brunch is set to make the Philippines its number three market.

    Korean food franchisor Sim Woo has partnered with Filipino-American entrepreneur Susan Barlin, for the Hi Brunch Philippines and Southeast Asia franchises. Barlin is a real estate executive who also owns a multi-level marketing business.

    Hi Brunch Philippines will offer porridge and desserts along with coffee.

    Formed in 2015, Sim’s holding company Midang FC already has 250 stores in Korea and two in Tokyo. The company is eyeing franchise stores Taipei, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, China, and Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia.

    Hi Brunch Philippines is set to open a store in Robinsons Galleria in two to three months.

    It will also open in Bonifacio Global City, Alabang, Tagaytay and Cebu. Barlin said the master franchise in the Philippines will open six company-owned stores among the 25 outlets planned for one year.

    Barlin said the food will be prepared in Korea and shipped frozen to the Philippines for cooking. Authentic Korean dessert bingsu (snow ice flakes topped with sweets) will also be offered at Hi Brunch.

    “We will not only import but we’ll make things here,” Sim said, adding that if food products are available in the Philippines, these may be locally sourced. For example, for the snow ice flakes, fresh Philippine mangoes are better than frozen, he said.