CEBU, Philippines - After successfully building its brand in the Philippines, Julie’s Bakeshop recently announced it will expand overseas by opening its first international branch in Tangerang, Indonesia by September 2013.
Joseph Gandionco, Julie’s Franchise Corporation (JFC) President and Chief Executive Officer, shares that this is the opportune time to enter the international market. “We have prepared for this and we are confident we can realize our dream of making Julie’s Bakeshop a global brand, †says Gandionco. Indonesia is just the start of this business direction. Inquiries have also been coming in from Malaysia, Thailand, Guam, Dubai, and the United States.
Julie’s Bakeshop will use the Philippine business model in its Indonesian operations while all raw materials will be sourced locally. Gandionco explains that they will continue to adhere to their core values of being the Philippines’ leading neighborhood bakeshop chain.
To ensure quality and consistency, a team of baking technicians and experienced personnel will provide support from pre-opening to post-opening operations of the first international branch.
“We make sure that products are served hot to the customers as we bake fresh breads every hour,†Gandionco shares.
According to Rudy Celeste, the Filipino franchisee in Indonesia, there is a big potential in the country, whose population is more than twice that of the Philippines.
Having been in Indonesia for 29 years, Celeste discloses that it has been a longtime dream to bring a Filipino brand overseas and he is confident that Julie’s Bakeshop will be a natural fit for the Indonesian market.
Julie Gandionco, founder of Julie’s Bakeshop, shares her excitement in the company’s first venture overseas and goes on to thank Rudy Celeste and the franchisees for their confidence and trust in the Julie’s brand. (FREEMAN)