Local choco chain to expand outside Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Homegrown chocolate chain Tablea Chocolate Cafe is going to expand outside of Cebu in the next few months, as the company is working on to open up a franchise package for its out-of-town outlets.

Eighteen months after establishing its brand as the sole cafe in Cebu that offers traditional beverages and desserts made of tablea, this pioneering company that promotes the Filipino’s old favorite morning delight, just opened its sixth branch at the J Centre Mall, the new shopping destination in Mandaue City.

Tablea Chocolate Cafe, inspired by tradition and “perfected by passion”, was created by Aya Garcia-Shlachter to preserve and re-introduce a long-standing Filipino pastime of drinking “sikwate” (tablea chocolate drink).

Tableas are pure cacao beans that are dried, roasted, ground and then formed into tablets traditionally used in the Philippines to make hot chocolate.

Shlachter’s cafe chain seeks to continue this Filipino tradition, while at the same time bring it to a whole new level by creating and providing inventive and high-quality chocolate drinks and desserts. 

Shlachter, who is a successful practicing architect in New York, is back to her hometown together with her family, to start off this promising venture.

The company spends about P2 million for every stand-alone cafe it opens.

She said she is looking at opening up outlets in Boracay, Davao, Bacolod, as soon as the franchise system for the company is completed.

Tablea Cafe offers 20 to 30 mixes of beverages and desserts, using cacao as its main ingredient.

The brand also supports the local cacao growing industry by promoting to its patrons that Philippine made products are not only equal to imports but also provide economic and social benefits for the country.

It currently sells and uses four varieties of Philippine Tablea from Argao (Cebu), Jimalalud (Negros Oriental), San Isidro (Davao), and Tagbilaran (Bohol). (FREEMAN)