BIZ BUZZ: URC bites deeper into Hong Kong
Universal Robina Corp. (URC) is proving that one way to win overseas is to cater to local tastes.
The Gokongwei-led food maker recently bagged a string of awards from two of Hong Kong’s biggest retailers—PARKnSHOP and 7-Eleven—highlighting the growing appeal of its Jack ’n Jill snack brand in the city.
The latest recognition came from the PARKnSHOP Super Brands Awards, where URC took home the Outstanding Marketing Award and Exclusive Co-Brand Award after rolling out Hong Kong-exclusive potato chip flavors, such as Sour Cream & Onion and Black Truffle, alongside the localized launch of Jack ’n Jill Tomato Crunchies.
Hong Kong is hardly new territory for Jack ’n Jill.
The brand has been present there since 1971 and its portfolio has since expanded to include household names, such as Beef Crunchies, Roller Coaster, Dewberry and Magic Flakes.
With fresh retail accolades under its belt, URC seems determined to keep building on that decades-long foothold as it expands its fast-moving consumer goods business across the region.
Haus Talk’s war chest remains full
Madlambayan family-led Haus Talk Inc. has barely scratched the surface of its P1.8-billion bond proceeds, suggesting the housing developer is taking a measured approach in deploying fresh capital despite an ambitious expansion pipeline.
The company disclosed that it had disbursed P388.8 million, or roughly 22 percent of the net proceeds, as of the end of June, leaving about P1.25 billion still available for future use.
The lion’s share of second-quarter spending—P332.7 million—went to land banking activities, underscoring Haus Talk’s continued appetite for acquiring new sites even as the property sector navigates softer demand and cautious homebuyers.
Another P35.7 million was allocated for project development, while P20.4 million funded general corporate purposes. The company also said no other disbursements were made during the period.
The update comes just four months after Haus Talk listed its Series A and Series B fixed-rate bonds on the Philippine Dealing & Exchange Corp. in March, raising P1.8 billion from investors. After deducting offer-related expenses, the company was left with estimated net proceeds of about P1.76 billion.
For now, it appears management is keeping much of that cash on standby.
Land prices remain elevated in strategic growth areas, while developers continue to balance expansion plans with a still-challenging residential market. Having more than P1.2 billion in unused bond proceeds gives Haus Talk flexibility to move quickly when opportunities arise—or when construction activity picks up.
For investors, the message is straightforward: the money is there, but Haus Talk is choosing to spend it gradually rather than all at once. Whether that patience translates into stronger earnings and project launches in the coming quarters is the bigger question.
