What Filipino franchises would work in the States?

[basho]

I've heard that Jollibee made a big splash in San Francisco when it opened there, so how about it? Andok's Lechon Manok? Maybe Don Henrico's, or National Bookstore? Shoot me your comments...

[nix]

Andok's would be neat. Yeah, but they would have to repackage it to go with some bread meals and all. Ano pa ba, ... How about Wok In. I love their rice meals. Burger Machine would kick butt there as well.

[basho]

Yeah, can you imagine those cute Burger Machine stalls parked up in Torrence Ave. or Sunset Blvd.? Pretty cool. I can see it now: NEW CRAZE SWEEPS THE U.S. LECHON MANOK! Hey, what about National? Do you think it has the guts to go against Barnes and Nobles or Waldon's?

[nix]

National won't stand a chance. They aren't only competing with the real world stores there, they will be up against the Amazon.com and EBay.com behemoths. Without their distribution network, they won't be able to compete against even the school supplies outlets -- Staples, etc...

[bUrAoT]

Jolibee will definitely click since theres a lot of filipino there nowadays

Zagu will also be a successful one like in Miami...(lahat ng maiinit nah lugar). Biro mo less than a dollar of refreshment

[Q]

Andok's is awesome! While I was in Manila I spoke to some people about the feasibility of lechon manok as a business in the US. Their verdict: No, because the type of chicken which is used in the Philippines tastes different from the chicken which is produced in the US. Now that I'm back in the US, I've noticed that the chicken does taste different. Native Phil chicken tastes better, but it's not as filling as the US varieties. Honestly, I thought the secret of lechon manok was in the mix, the templa. Any other perspectives?

I have to agree with Buraot. Something like Zagu, or pearl milk shakes for that matter, could appeal to the US market. Isn't Zagu already on the West Coast?

Another of my friends vacationing in Manila commented that barongs (gusot mayamang(sp?)) might do well in Miami area as the attire is suitable to the climate. In fact, the Cubans have their own version of barong.

Buraot, are you in Miami?

[Cali4Nia]

Mr. Q:

There are a lot of BOBA (Black Chewy Sago) mom and pop shops all over So Cal and in some mall food courts (mostly owned by Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese/Pinoys) and a Chinese American owned franchise called Tapioca Express similar to a Zagu in Pinas :teehee:


I was just at the Jollibee in Carson...it's so friggin' far from Glendale...they need to put one in LA near the Chowking and Goldilocks on Vermont and 3rd...pleeeeaaase....ang layo driving the freeway heading down south just for a friggin' jollibee burger :teehee:

[Cali4Nia]

sorry double post.

[n0b0dy]

Tapioca Express is already all over the place in S cal. I dont think Zagu will survive in the US, even where a lot of Filipinos reside.

One thing, it won't survive the competition which are Tapioca Express and other mom and pop milk tea proprietors. I don't think it will stand a chance against Jolibee and Chowking, which offers zagu type drinks.

hehehe

Maybe a resto like Cabalen will survive in America, I have seen buffet like pinoy restos and have done rather well. Given that it will maintain high quality.

[Q]

hi y'all!

I was not aware of the tapioca shake places that you mentioned. I guess that's what I get for living on the East Coast, far from the madding crowd. In that case, I too think Zagu would have some stiff competition entering the pearl shake market as a late entrant.

Cali,

Yo! Chill out! :) You can drop the "Mr." Please. You're making feel old! He-he. I'm working on a draft for the political empowerment thread. It's not a long draft, but I have a bad case of writer's block right now, so it may take a little time. Later!

[Leigh]

If ever, we are going to target Filipinos abroad, especially in the U.S, Canada, Australia...where there are a lot of Filipinos, Jollibee is the way because a lot of people miss the sweetness in Filipino Cooking. Andoks is good also.

But...if we are targetting the natives of those countries, it's going to be a little hard, because, they have McDonald's against our Jollibee, the Burger King against our Burger Machine. I can see Andoks...like a Kenny Rogers, it's a hit here, but there, it will be hard to market.

I believe Canada also has pearl shakes - bubble tea ba? (Stud, help me on this) and it's a hit, but i really can't say that it's originally ours.

There are no franchises yet like this but...
i think the best business is, something like an Ichiban for Filipinos...they can market dried mango, pastillas and other finger stuff. I believe it will encompass the "just Filipino" market and eventually the natives will also like our small items.

[StuDmuFFin]

Jollibee is a success in Frisco because of the support it's getting and its location. I remembered when they opened a Jollibee in vancouver and it was closed down after a year or so. Remember, Filipinos are minorities well..asian basically, it's very hard to keep a filipino franchise alive in the states cuz' not "ALL" people living there would have the filipino tasebuds. In order to get a franchise to survive, 1st you have to choose your target market obviously the majority living around the place your going franchise in. 2nd LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION, there's a goldilock's in vancouver that is still going strong after 6 years why? bec. not only it caters to filipinos in downtown, it caters to the majority living there (caucasians, indians, african-canadians etc) bec. it's a bake shop, it's not limited to only 1 group of people. 3rd Do they need the "franchise" there? If the places have a bunch of kfc's, church's chicken, etc. and u still going to open andok's? hehehe too many competition. 4th Pricing, remember the market here is different than over there, obviously the price there would be much higher compared over here. andok's cost P200 here? i'm sure it'll cost $10+ in canada (P300+) cuz' of the different quality, grade, etc....Can the "franchise" make money in the long run in that country? yun lang....People open franchises to make money and that's the bottom line, if the franchise can't money then i'm sure nobody will risk doing that.

[StuDmuFFin]

Originally posted by Leigh


I believe Canada also has pearl shakes - bubble tea ba? (Stud, help me on this) and it's a hit, but i really can't say that it's originally ours.



Pearl Shakes was originally from Taiwan, it sailed it way to vancouver/canada 4-5 years ago (so we had it before philippines) hehe i wanted to open a bbtea place here but by the time i got here in the phil. may zagu na and stuff.....:p sayang hehehe

Bubble tea is soo hot in vancouver when you walk around you can see a bbtea place every block! hahahahahaha :D

[n0b0dy]

Remitance centers is a franchise that is working in the US; another is the balik bayan padala services. ( courier)

[Leigh]

One of my friends mentioned to me that Struan and Tang's probably would do well in the U.S., the franchise is actually owned by a Filipino couple and with it's oriental theme, it might just make money since many Americans like Chinese food and Tea is as good as coffee :)