Ching Palace keeps positive prospects

A Cebu-based Chinese restaurant remains confident and holds on to its positive prospects for this year and the next amid the current global economic crisis.

The Ching Palace, a multi awarded Chinese restaurant in Cebu is still looking at more growth prospects in the market for the coming years as competition intensifies in the city with the entry of Manila-based restaurants migrating to Cebu.

Managing directress Engr. Jan Joan Yu-So said that due to Cebuano’s explorative nature, most of them are keen on trying out different dining experiences so it is expected that they will patronize new developments like The Terraces in Ayala Center Cebu where most new restaurants have opened.

So also noted that the onset of the global crisis a few months back have changed the movement of their client traffic this month.

“We are not particularly sure if these are caused by the crisis or because Ayala opened The Terraces as we all know that usually Cebuanos want to try out new things,” she said.

But So still maintains her optimism that the effect of these new developments in their business will be temporary.

“We know this is but temporary because if people knows that your food is good and of quality, they will surely come back to you after trying new things out so we are not threatened by these new developments,” she said.

So said that despite the worsening effect of the crisis to some businesses in the country, The Ching Palace is still able to maintain a diversifying client-base from the A, B and the upper C segment of the market composed of professionals, businessmen, families, and executives.

So also revealed that having been operating in Cebu for the last five years, they have had several invitations from major mall operators to open up another restaurant in the area but they refused because they felt it not feasible to open within the city because the market for fine Chinese cuisine dining is not as big compared to Manila.

However, realizing the growing competition, The Ching Palace is gearing towards expanding its function rooms to cater to bigger events and also considers putting up a new branch outside Cebu like in Manila or Davao.

Currently, The Ching Palace has four function rooms that can occupy around 280 people put together while the restaurant can occupy around 200 people.

But since the family is hands-on in handling the operation of the business, So said that they will be taking their expansion plans slowly.

With their expansion, So foresees becoming another reception for special and corporate events in the city.

So added that the growing competition in Cebu’s food industry is making the playing field more challenging for them.

She stressed that the stiff competition is not only giving their customers lots of food choices but it also urges them as players to maintain their edge of providing quality food to the consumers.

“We look forward next year to maintaining our existing client base and expect new ones as number of tourists in Cebu increases. Due to the crisis, we anticipate a slowdown next year but we also expect to maintain the existing markets that we serve because what we offer the market is quality food.”

The Ching Palace is a National Product Excellence Quality Award Hall of Famer named as the “Best Chinese Restaurant in Cebu” for the last five years.

 This December, they will be receiving another award from the National Shopper’s Choice Awards as the “Best Chinese Restaurant in Cebu” which was surveyed according to the quality of food and service that was provided to its client base.—Rhia de Pablo