Potato Corner opens stores in UK, Dubai

MANILA, Philippines — Potato Corner, the kiosk-based flavored fries chain owned by the Po family’s Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc., continues its global expansion with the opening of its first ever store in London and  in Dubai.

Shakey’s said the new store in the United Kingdom, whose franchisee is Filipino businessman Wilfredo Ventura, is located at the Medz Corner Food Court along Kensington High Street, a major shopping district in London.

With the new store, the homegrown Filipino brand established its global presence in five continents – Asia, North America, South America, Australia, and now, Europe.

Shakey’s said Potato Corner’s entry in Europe forms part of its strategy to accelerate global expansion.

The brand also recently  set foot in Dubai for the first time, with the store franchised by Dubai-based Filipino businessman and restaurateur Rolly Brucales.

Year-to-date, Potato Corner has opened 39 new international stores in Thailand, Singapore, China, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates, among others.

In line with its continuing expansion, the flavored fries giant likewise marked the opening of its 1,400th store with  a new branch in Zarraga, Iloilo.

Potato Corner’s current footprint stands at 1,195 stores in the Philippines and 205 stores internationally.

“We’re very pleased with the growth momentum of Potato Corner, and we look forward to further increasing its footprint,” Shakey’s president and chief executive officer Vicente Gregorio said.

“Alongside revenues and returns, accelerating Potato Corner’s expansion means more franchisees and their families benefiting from the business, more job opportunities in the communities where we will operate, and more guests finding joy in a Giga cup of their favorite flavored fries,” he said.

Shakey’s, one of the leading casual dining restaurant chains and food service groups in the country, acquired the Potato Corner brand this year.

The brand was first established in 1992 as a small food cart and became one of the largest kiosk-based chains in the country through a pioneering franchising model.