Negotiations for "Thirsty"Dubai franchise underway

CEBU, Philippines - Homegrown fresh fruit juice chain, Thirsty Juices and Shakes will be hitting the Middle East market soon, as the Pages Holdings Inc., is now negotiating with an interested investor to set up outlets in Dubai.

Now on its 13th year in providing healthy drink options to Filipino consumers, Thirsty will start its international penetration, hopefully to start an outlet in Dubai, said Pages Holdings Inc., chairman Bunny Pages.

Pages said the company is negotiating for master-franchise agreement with an interested investor in Dubai, for the opening of several outlets there that will bring this Cebu brand to the Middle East market.

Part of the company’s initial plan, Pages said is to offer the franchise for the brand via licensing agreement that will be locked for five years.

However, Pages said negotiation for this venture is still ongoing and no official or concrete deals have been signed yet.

If this venture will be finalized, Thirsty will be one of the pioneer Cebu-grown brands that penetrates the Dubai market, although there are number of Cebuano entrepreneurs who are currently clinching franchise deals for Dubai ventures such as Bo’s Coffee Club, among others.

In the Philippines, Thirsty brand is present in 100 locations, 30 outlets are managed by franchisees.

Pages said, although the sales-performance of this kind of products is mostly seasonal, business is still profitable.

Pursuing the international market could mean greater risk for the brand, however, with the licensing agreement, Pages hopes that it will provide good expansion opportunity for the brand.