MANILA, Philippines – 2023 has been a period of significant growth for The Bistro Group, ending the year with 23 concepts and over 180 stores nationwide.
By keeping pace with the changing demands of the local market and enhancing customer experience, the company has increased its F & B footprints opening multiple stores in major malls and free-standing venues in Metro Manila and in the provinces as well (Clark, Pampanga and Bacolod City).
People: the driving force behind the business
The Bistro Group has always placed a premium on human resource as a very important asset behind its success. “A people first environment is what we try to achieve. Customers come and go but our management and staff are in restaurants everyday,” says Jean Paul Manuud, President of The Bistro Group.
Training their staff and upskilling them is a priority. This will help expand their knowledge and experience so they can also move up the corporate ladder. In fact, a big percentage of those in the supervisory and managerial levels started as waitstaff, cooks and bartenders.
“We owe a significant portion of our growth to them,” Manuud adds. “Simply put, happy employees equals happy customers equals repeat visits. We instill in them the mindset of treating our guests the way they would visitors in their own homes.”
Success Factors: Resilience, Quality, Value
The Bistro Group also attributes their staying power to its resilience, quality of food and service and value.
The word resilience has not been used as much as the world emerges from the pandemic. In the business circle, it is the operative word in order to recover and survive during altered situations such as the Covid19 crisis. “I’d like to believe that our resilience during critical times has prepared us well to pursue our growth targets,” Manuud shares. “Now is the time to seize opportunities, business continuity and solid expansion. We soldier on, after careful analysis of financial situations and risk assessment.”
No second thoughts about it, quality makes or breaks a restaurant. That is why this is a priority in the back of the house and front of the house staff. “Delivering top-notch food and service drives customer satisfaction,” he explains. “This, plus value for money and variety of cuisines are integral parts of the equation. Guests are more discerning nowadays because of the myriad choices at their fingertips. The key is to be the top choice when they make decisions as where to dine-in and what food to choose.”
Morton’s Steakhouse, Fogo De Chao and more in 2024
Exciting times are forthcoming at the Bistro Group with the entry of new local and international brands with promising statistics on revenue and sales.
Opening in Q1 2024 is the widely popular Morton’s Steakhouse. Founded in Chicago in 1978, it has over 60 locations in the US and around the world. People who have travelled in other countries may be familiar with this concept, with USD prime-aged steaks forming part of its core menu, along with fresh seafood, hand-picked produce, delicious appetizers and decadent desserts.
Also launching in Q1 2024 is Fogo de Chão, an internationally renowned restaurant founded in Southern Brazil in 1979. It elevates the centuries-old cooking technique of churrasco – the art of roasting high-quality cuts of meat over an open flame – into a cultural dining experience of discovery. Its entry into the Philippine market reflects the next step in Fogo’s growth plans as the company accelerates expansion in domestic and international markets. The Bistro Group joins Fogo’s existing international franchise partners in Mexico and the Middle East.
Joining the line-up are homegrown restaurant concepts from Filipino, Chinese, Western to Mediterranean cuisines.
My South Hall at Conrad S’Maison that elevates the food hall dining experience will have a brand refresh with the introduction of new concepts including Sarap+ Bistro Filipino, Fratboys & Sons that serves burgers, wings and salads; Xi Nen Hotpot and the return of Wickd Milk Tea.
Also in the offing are the launch of Chinese restaurant/bar Red Lotus by Modern Shang and a new Mediterranean brand by Spanish Chef Alfredo Rodriguez of Bistronomia.
Aside from these, expect the opening of more branches of existing concepts, expanding brands that are scalable and whose business models can be replicated with ease.
2024 brings to the fore solid industry players that will make the dining scene more exciting and pleasurable. The Bistro Group aims to increase its market share by offering diverse cuisines and presence in more locations in the country.
Founded in 1994, The Bistro Group is one of the Philippines’ most progressive restaurant chains that popularized the casual dining concept with the entry of TGIFridays in the country over 25 years ago. Its success led to the launch of other world-class brands such as Italianni’s, Denny’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Texas Roadhouse, Randy’s Donuts and Hard Rock Café among others as well as Asian concepts like Watami, Modern Shang, Bulgogi Brothers and Fish & Co. The company owns and operates Bistronomia, a collection of boutique Spanish/Mediterranean restaurants, Las Flores, Rambla, Tomatito, BCN by Las Flores and Rumba. Also part of its portfolio is TBG Elite by award-winning corporate executive chef, Josh Boutwood. Its premier restaurants, highlighted by quality ingredients, seasonality and unique cooking methods are Helm, The Test Kitchen, Savage and Ember. The Bistro Group is driven by a people-focused philosophy that is the backbone of its success. Passion and commitment propel its operations…in every restaurant, behind every dish and with every service rendered with generous hospitality.
For restaurant concepts and more information about The Bistro Group, visit https://www.bistro.com.ph/. Follow @thebistrogroup on social media.
ADVT