MANILA, Philippines - Homegrown coffee chain Figaro Coffee Co. is brewing plans to go big abroad with the opening of about 40 stores in the Middle East over the next 10 years.
The Filipino-owned coffee company recently inked a master franchise agreement with the FBA Group of Qatar, paving the way for Figaro to expand in the Middle East.
The FBA Group is involved in various businesses which include real estate, construction, travel and tours, furniture, industrial products and trading.
The Doha-based firm has recently diversified into the food and beverage business as well and Figaro has been chosen as its first food and beverage venture.
Aside from the expansion in Qatar, the FBA Group will also open Figaro coffee outlets in other Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) countries namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.
FBA and Figaro are eyeing to open the first Figaro store in Qatar by the first quarter of next year, with plans to put up 40 stores in the GCC countries within the next 10 years.
Figaro has seven stores overseas to date, with two located in Malaysia, two in China, two in Papua New Guinea and one in Saudi Arabia.
Figaro said it is set to open more stores in UAE, Saudi Arabia and Papua New Guinea.
Locally, Figaro has 72 stores nationwide and is still aggressively seeking franchising partnerships as part of its growth strategy.
Aside from the National Capital Region, Figaro also has stores in several provinces such as Batangas, Bulacan, Cagayan De Oro, Cavite, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Laguna, Pangasinan, Rizal and Surigao City.
Figaro will also be opening new stores in Sto.Tomas in Batangas; Ema Town Center in Meycauayan, Bulacan; Felcris Centrale in Davao; Gaisano Toril in Davao; Iligan City, Greenbelt Madison, Solemare Parksuits and Delos Santos Hospital in the near term.
Figaro is the country’s largest homegrown coffee company and for decades has been able to survive the deluge of large international coffee brands that have entered the Philippine market. The firm will celebrate its 21st year this November.