JCA Pizza unfazed by competition

CEBU, Philippines - Big and small names in the pizza industry are expanding and strengthening their presence over the months but having the advantage of being the “homegrown” pizza parlor in the city gives JCA Mr. Pizzaman the confidence that they would continually do well and be supported by the Cebuanos.

JCA manager Charissa To said that despite the tough competition, they are still happy with how business is moving forward since they still continue to enjoy the regular coming in of customers especially those that have been used to their kind of pizza.

To said that since their pizza have been present for quite a long time now, being one of the first ever pizza parlors to open in Cebu over 21 years ago, the younger generations still go to JCA since it has been one of the things that have been passed on by their parents to them.

Since also JCA pizza products were carefully studied and patterned from original pizza recipes but given their own kind of twist, To said that their taste and thin crust pizza still collect the same fondness from the public.

“We know that people who know good pizza come to JCA,” said To who added that since they are called the Cebuano home-grown pizza, they already have a niche in the market but then this does not stop them in continually finding means to give more products and enhancements in their services.

JCA now has eight new pizza flavors, which they call the New Edition pizza that has reaped good feedback from the customers since it was introduced just recently plus the pizza flavors that have been present for the years, which JCA continues to serve with no change in ingredients since it was introduced from the start.

JCA also has grown continually in the number of stores in the city from starting of with just one store in the corner of Salinas Drive with just a few stools and chairs and initially serving pizza for take out purposes.

Now, they have five all over the city namely in Salinas Lahug, Capitol, Gorordo Avenue, Lapu Lapu City and Mandaue City.

To said that all are company owned and are not franchised but is looking at the possibility of soon opening the store for franchise. However, for the meantime, To said that they are looking forward for their expansions by opening up two more stores within the year within the Visayas region where they are now looking at potential locations.

According to To, they are aware that more and more small pizza houses are opening up since it’s a free market and a free enterprise but they find ways to cope with the competition like offering promos and discounts especially for the occasions like the upcoming Valentines day.

But To said in general, they are relatively more affordable than the bigger pizza stores however, this is not their edge since they boast of the taste and the quality that makes them apart from the rest especially the difference of their crust from the others.

JCA enjoys the large market of the yuppies and students said To but continues to have the older generation who have been used to the quality of their pizzas and services. — AJ de la Torre