Banker hits big in Beefwich business

Cebuano-developed snack chain, Beefwich, is hitting the national market and will offer its unique concept for franchise in the third quarter of this year.

This six-month old business, introduced by new entrepreneurs who are bankers, started with a stall in the mall, like the Ayala Center Cebu, and soon in other major malls in Cebu.

Beefwich, an original concept of offering snack products highlighting grilled beef with special sauces as its main product, to go with unique Italian bread called Ciabatta. It has now three outlets, the small start-up outlet at North General Hospital in Talamban, GQS commercial complex at Banilad area, and at Food Choices in Ayala Center.

"I got a lot of inquiries already for franchise in other major cities outside Cebu. I'll be offering the business for franchise probably in the 3rd quarter of this year," said Beefwich proprietor Alan J.I. Larot.

Currently, Larot said he is talking with a local franchise consultant to set up the franchise offering for Beefwich.

Larot's Beefwich is another Cebuano business concept that is expected to hit the Philippine food service market, because of its originality and attractive price offering.

"I always love to experiment on cooking beef. The business was developed because of my fondness of beef," Larot said.

The couple's hard earned P100,000 was invested into starting an outlet in North General Hospital in Talamban, mainly to target the students. A month later, Larot was invited to open up at the new GQS commercial complex, which helped strengthen its market awareness, and increase its market patronage.

Last month, the Ayala Center Cebu stall at the Food Choices near the cinema was opened, further creating interest from other interested entrepreneurs from other areas to get a Beefwich franchise.

"I'm thankful to Ayala Center for giving break to small entrepreneurs like me. I never thought I could go this far, in just six months," Larot, a division manager of a bank said.

Because its product is something new for the market, Larot was able to break even and make profit in the last three months of operation.

Every outlet that he opened he spent more than P100,000 in investments. In the two new outlets that he opened, he was able to source out the capital from a bank loan.

"Many are asking if Beefwich is a Manila-based brand. Certainly, it's a pure Cebuano concept, and I am thankful that the concept has surprisingly captured the 'hard-to-please market in Cebu," he said in an interview with The Freeman.

A filling Beefwich sandwich is only pegged at P35. "My strength is the pricing. I don't mind getting a very thin profit margin in every sandwich that I sold, what is important is the volume," he said.

Since the young couple are both working for a bank, he said, his wife is considering availing of an early retirement package, to focus on their business.

Even with its three outlets now, with each stall sold an average of 100 sandwiches a day, the couple is hands-on in food preparation, especially in marinating the beef meat for grilling, and making their original sauce mix at their house in Villa del Rio in Bacayan, Talamban.