Local pizza chain eyeing to expand via franchising

CEBU, Philippines – A Cebuano pizza chain is eyeing to put up more branches in Cebu next year and open its business for franchising.

Ramon Carlo Yap, owner of Da Vinci's, recently announced his company is looking at setting up five more branches. It currently has seven in Metro Cebu.

Yap, however, declined to disclose when asked how much the company will invest for the store network expansion.

As for expansion outside Cebu, Yap said that franchising is the only effective way to do that.

"It's our way to fast track expansion outside," the owner said, adding that the opening for franchise might start in the latter part of 2016.

The pizza company is also open to establishing company-owned branches outside Cebu but Yap noted that could "not be anytime soon".

Amid the growing competition in the pizza industry, Yap said his firm is now renovating its existing stores and creating new offerings.

Da Vinci's started in 2002 by the Lee family. It was last year when the pizza brand was acquired by East West Fusion Centris Inc. which had then begun to oversee the chain of stores and meet the rising demand from pizza eaters.

When asked about the acquisition cost, the official declined to disclose.