Shakey’s readies P1B to put up ‘one store a day’

Vicente Gregorio —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Po family-led Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. will spend around P1 billion this year to expand its store network, particularly outside Metro Manila, as it seeks to reach more communities during its 50th year.

Shakey’s president and CEO Vicente Gregorio told reporters on Wednesday night they aimed to open “at least one [store] a day,” implying they had more than 365 stores in the pipeline for 2025 alone.

“All the brands are growing more aggressively,” Gregorio said during a press briefing, adding that the optimism was primarily driven by expectations that consumption would improve this year.

“From what we’ve gone through in 2023 and 2024, they were very challenging years … the economists we consulted have a general view that this year will be better,” the CEO added.

Shakey’s, whose brands include flavored fries Potato Corner and roasted chicken Peri-Peri, first opened its flagship pizza store in the country in 1975.

As of end-December last year, the company had over 2,500 stores across its brands, with Shakey’s Pizza nearing the 300-store mark.

Growth prospects

Shakey’s general manager Oliver Sicam said the pizza brand was still “underrepresented” in the Visayas and Mindanao, as most of its stores were located in Metro Manila.

“What we’re still seeing is a big opportunity to grow in the Visayas and Mindanao, and even outside of Metro Manila in our provinces up north,” he said.

READ: Shakey’s booked P1.08-B profit in 2023

In the first nine months of 2024, Shakey’s opened 342 new stores, ending the period with 2,483 in its network across the globe.

Gregorio previously said they would focus their expansion on Potato Corner, especially since they had “a long list of franchise applicants” for the brand.

Last September, Shakey’s announced plans to launch an American subsidiary, which will own and operate stores and franchises in the United States, particularly Potato Corner.

READ: Po food group eyes slice of American food market

“All I can say for now is we’re definitely excited with the potential of the US market. We’re just putting up the foundation to capitalize and optimize the growth opportunities there, which we believe is big,” Gregorio said.