Local coffee shop confident to gain nationwide reception

Despite the entry of international brands of coffee shops in Cebu, a newly developed coffee shop brand, Maria M. Clara Café, is confident to make a strong impression and push its own brand known across the country in the next few years.

Maria M. Clara Café, a chic food and beverage coffee shop, operated by Lhuiller-controlled Cebu Country Farmers, a group that manages the high-end Gustavian restaurant, is opening its doors to profitable franchise business, to expand its network nationwide.

The first Maria M. Clara Café outlet operated by franchisee couple Jude and Gina Millares along Talamban area, easily attracted increasing coffee lovers from students, young professionals, and families, because of its unique ambiance and affordable, yet expensively prepared choices of foods.

In an interview with Jude Millares, he said that the success of its first branch in Talamban outlet, which was opened in November of last year, has encouraged them to invest about P3.5 million for the establishment of the second outlet in Banilad area.

Mellares said the group, with solid financial backup, is ready to fight head-on with the giant competitors in the coffee shop business, and will take advantage of the huge untapped areas in Cebu and other provinces, like Dumaguete, Bohol, and others.

“We are even willing to enter the Manila market,” he said.

He said the Cebu Country Farmers group has formulated plans to make Maria M. Clara Café a stronger coffee shop brand in the Philippines.

“We would like to pioneer in offering high-breed coffee shop brand in the Philippines, which will not only offer gourmet coffee products, but a combination of  family-friendly food choices, including all-day breakfast menus, freshly baked bread, and other premium snack-food products.

He said most of the well-known coffee shops do not offer family-friendly menus as they primarily targets adult part of the market, Maria M. Clara Café on the other hand, will leverage on attracting the entire family market, for a chic coffee shop ambiance setting.

Next month, the company will start the operation of its big commissary facility in Talamban, in preparation for the Café’s out-of-town expansion in the next few months.

Since, the brand is authentically developed by Cebuanos, he said each outlet offers Cebuano-snack menu with a twist, like flavored “Sikwati” (Chocolate Drink, mixed with Mango, and Strawberry juices.)

All-in franchise offering of this new Café brand is pegged at P3.5 million to P3.8 million, including already one-time inventory supplies, staff training and outlet location and interior setting.

 “I believe there is still a huge market for coffee shop especially in the provinces,” he said expressing confidence that coffee shop trend has is now expanding its acceptance not only in the highly urbanized areas like Cebu, but also in key provinces all over the country.

With the company’s partnership with HSBC, for the offering of franchise-financial loans, Millares said there are at least 10 interested franchisees now applying to open up outlets in other parts of Cebu, Bohol, and Dumaguete.

Once, the chain will have enough branches, Millares said the company is also planning to source out locally-produced coffee beans to support the coffee farmers in the country.

At present, the coffee shop is using Italian premium coffee brand Chicco Doro, and also starting to offer Bukidnon-produced coffee blend called “Monk’s Blend.”