Potato Corner opens 2,000th store in Cebu

MANILA, Philippines — Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (SPAVI)’s kiosk-based food brand Potato Corner has marked a significant milestone with the opening in Cebu of its 2,000th store.

SPAVI said the 2,000th Potato Corner outlet is an XP outlet located in SM Cebu, which is owned by franchisee Por Fin Trading Corp.

The Potato Corner XP store is a new experiential store format with an expanded menu and branded merchandising.

The store utilizes a larger footprint with dedicated retail space for Potato Corner branded merchandising.

Its menu includes friescream, exclusive flavors, signature beverages and special cuts.

The 2,000th Potato Corner XP store in Cebu is the second in such a format, with the first XP outlet being a company-owned store in Glorietta, Makati, which was inaugurated last July.

“Potato Corner is among the most well-loved brands in the country. It gives us great pleasure to bring to life the Potato Corner XP store format because it creates a more immersive brand experience for our guest,” Potato Corner chief operating officer and general manager Joey Alvero said.

“We are very grateful for the continued patronage of our ‘PotCor’ fans, and we hope that these new stores will inspire more people to come by and enjoy our brand’s offerings,” Alvero said.

Potato Corner was acquired in 2022 by SPAVI, a leading full-service chain restaurant and food service group in the country.

The brand, known today for its signature flavored fries, started as a food kiosk in 1990.

It has since become a top-of-mind franchise among budding entrepreneurs, with over 800 franchisees worldwide.

Alvero said Potato Corner’s strong brand equity among its guests and profitable business model have made the brand a top franchise of choice among entrepreneurs.

Potato Corner is currently available in 15 markets globally and has proven to be a strong growth contributor for SPAVI.

The brand has also expanded its international footprint, recently opening in Malaysia while also building its presence in China.

Since the acquisition by SPAVI in 2022, Potato Corner has grown its network by more than 700 stores and outlets worldwide.

For last year alone, the group opened 359 units.

“Apart from this being an accretive acquisition, Potato Corner also provides us with a platform to advocate entrepreneurship. We strive to build on the legacy of this brand in growing franchisees,” SPAVI president and chief executive officer Vicente Gregorio said.

“Working with our partner franchisees and seeing their business flourish with SPAVI gives us a deep sense of accomplishment and purpose. This further fortifies our commitment to growing Potato Corner, supporting all our partner franchisees and creating iconic guest experiences as we move forward,” Gregorio said.