Bistro Group's healthy appetite for success
MANILA, Philippines - The Bistro Group of Restaurants continues to show a healthy appetite for success as it continues to capture new growth areas in the casual dining market. The company is aggressively pursuing expansion plans in the next five years not only in Metro Manila but also in new wave cities like Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, General Santos and Bacolod.
This year, the company shifts to high gear with the addition of new branches to its international and homegrown chain of restaurants as well as the refurbishment of some outlets in keeping with the brand’s promise of giving guests great food, service, variety and the perfect ambience to match.
Big malls provide a venue for growth opportunity among restaurants. “With these malls come fresh opportunities to expand our existing brands in emerging markets and to open new concepts. Big mall operators such as Megaworld, SM Group, Ayala and Robinsons can help propel the growth of the restaurant industry. Over the years, we have seen changes in people’s lifestyle and dining out behavior and the Bistro Group has been at the center of this transformation delivering a high level of service that resonates with the evolving needs of our market,” says Amy Palisoc, Bistro Group vice president for business development.
“We are pleased to announce the opening this August of yet another international concept — Bulgogi Brothers, a Korean barbecue restaurant. It will be located in Greenbelt,” Palisoc adds. In line with the forthcoming launch, the agreement between Bistro Group president William Stelton and Zeus Yi, president of Bulgogi Brothers Korea, was forged recently.
Recently, T.G.I. Friday’s opened its 12th branch and Italianni’s, its 15th store both at the Abreeza Mall in Davao, reinforcing their status as key players in the casual dining segment.
For the past 17 years, the Bistro Group has enjoyed the reputation of introducing many “firsts” to the local food scene. Its pilot venture, T.G.I. Friday’s which first opened in Glorietta 3, instantly drew huge crowds with dishes served in big portions. Another foreign concept was launched by the company — Fish & Co. Bistro also explored on the local flavors further inspiring themed restaurant concepts, namely: Billy Rock, Pig Out, Flapjacks and Krazy Garlik.
To date, there are 12 T.G.I.Friday’s, 15 Italianni’s and 5 Fish & Co. branches across the country. Its homegrown concepts, meanwhile, are also making waves in the industry with the opening four Flapjacks branches; Billy Rock at Shangri-la Mall; Pig-Out in Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna; and Krazy Garlik in Greenbelt 5 and Newport Mall. Bistro recently took over the management of The Stock Market in Bonifacio High Street and opened Bistro Academy that offers restaurant operations programs.
