Cagayan based resto opens two more outlets in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Cagayan de Oro based restaurant brand Bigby’s is set to strengthen its foothold in the Southern Philippine food chain sector, starting with the opening of two more outlets in Cebu.

Bigby's Quality Foods Corporation, the operator of seven Bigby's outlets in Visayas and Mindanao, will initially focus its active expansion move in Cebu with planned opening of one outlet in Cebu IT Park and one at the South Road Properties.

In an interview with Henrik Kelly Yu, the company's part-owner and marketing manager, he said that the 16-year-old intercontinental comfort food restaurant was able to compete well in the competitive food industry specifically in Cebu owing to the active local market and influx of tourists.

Recently, the company re-opened its outlet in a new location at the Ayala Center Cebu at the Terraces, bringing back the old Bigby's patrons’ favorites.

According to Yu, Cebu is one of the fastest growing markets for the chain, the reason why it has decided to add two more in Cebu aside from its Ayala Center and SM Cebu restaurants.

Despite the entry of independent restaurant brands, as well as the branded names in the restaurant industry, Yu said Bigby's is confident of its position in the market proven by the sustained growth of its two outlets in Cebu, and two in Davao, one in General Santos and two in Cagayan de Oro.

Aside from the vibrant market interest and growing tourists, he said Cebu's positioning as a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) also helped the industry sustain a healthy business competition, providing all the players with more space for growth.

Bigby's brand of restaurant chain was started by three friends namely; Henrik, Ann Yu and Cathy Genabe from Cagayan de Oro, out of their common passion to "eat good food."

After college, the friends invested P600 thousand to open its first outlet in Cagayan de Oro. In 1998, the company opened its first outlet in Cebu in Ayala Center, and later at SM City Cebu.

While there is tempting offers for franchise, Yu said the company opts to expand the business through partnership arrangement so as not to spoil the "owners' personal-touch system" to sustain quality and good service.

The company also operates a pastry shop brand called "Missy Bonbon", which has three outlets in Cagayan de Oro.

According to Yu, they are soon to make expansion plans for its pastry shop chain in Cebu and other parts of Southern Philippines. — (FREEMAN)