Max’s to open 3 stores abroad

The Max’s Group of Companies plans to open six more stores of its homegrown fried chicken restaurant, including three abroad, in the second half of this year as it consolidates a number of key functions and departments with those of sister-company Pancake House Inc.

Robert F. Trota, who sits on the board of directors of the Max’s group, told reporters that the company aims to bring to 145 the number of local Max’s Restaurant outlets by yearend from 142 to date. Three more stores abroad—one each in Canada, Qatar, and Dubai in United Arab Emirates—will be added to its 15 branches overseas.

Three additional local stores will be put up outside Metro Manila, just like the two recently opened branches on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and Butuan City.

Max’s Restaurant has already saturated the National Capital Region, according to public relations and media manager Bobby Simborio.

As for the overseas outlets, Simborio said the bulk of customers remained mostly Filipinos, although the restaurant chain eventually wants more locals to also become regular diners. The existing stores abroad are located in the United States, Canada and the Middle East.

Trota said that while “there are no plans at the moment to incorporate Max’s Restaurant into the Pancake House group,” the two entities’ operations would be synergized.

Last February, Max’s completed its acquisition of an 89.95-percent stake in listed Pancake House at an estimated P3.5 billion.

Trota said that, while the two firms each have their own business development and human resource departments, there have been ongoing collaborations among these units.

The two companies also have four commissaries in all, which they plan to reduce to just three to be shared by both, Trota said.