FASTFOOD chain Popeyes Philippines has rolled out its franchising program as part of its plan to double its store count nationwide within the next 18 months.
Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the multinational fastfood holding company that owns Popeyes, said the Philippines is the world’s leading Popeyes market by transactions.
Citing strong interest from local investors, Popeyes Philippines Marketing Director Dustin Ngo said launching a franchising program in the Philippines is the “next logical step” for the brand.
“It’s a good investment opportunity and aligns with Popeyes’ growth trajectory in the next 3 years,” he said in a statement.
To avail of a Popeyes franchise, an interested franchisee must make an investment of P45 million to P50 million, it said.
“This has been optimized to give investors better RoI (return on investment), which we project at around three years. It’s also competitive in comparison to other franchising options that are available,” said Francis Reyes, the company’s group chief financial officer.
The investment covers a 1,000-square-meter free-standing store with a drive-thru area. It also includes construction, furniture, fixtures, equipment, personnel training, and a one-time franchise agreement fee valid for a 10-year period.
Investors will also be charged an 8% royalty fee and a 5% systemwide ad fee, both computed based on store sales performance.
Franchisees will be provided with the necessary end-to-end operational and management resources, as well as support from RBI and the local team.
These resources cover guest experience, restaurant maintenance and safety, production and inventory, finances, and team management — all accessible through RBI’s online system.
Technologically adaptive solutions, such as self-order kiosks, will also be included in the package.
“We want our partners to operate their Popeyes franchise with ease, essentially in just a turn of a key in less than a year. Our focus is on maximizing their efficiency and accelerating their RoI,” said Popeyes Philippines Chief Operating Officer Dan Hayton.
Popeyes Philippines recently opened its 60th branch in the country at SM Dasmariñas, which also serves as the first Popeyes restaurant in Cavite.
“It quickly became one of the Top 5 branches in sales, reaffirming our growth strategy to expand beyond Metro Manila,” Mr. Ngo said.
In April, Kuya J Food Group, Inc., the exclusive master franchise holder of Popeyes in the Philippines, said it allocated P100 million for capital expenditure (capex) this year to support planned store openings and renovations. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
