TACLOBAN CITY -- Bo’s Coffee will open two more branches in Eastern Visayas, driven by the region’s vibrant economy and rising demand for coffee products.
Bo’s Coffee president and founder Steve Benitez said he has been encouraging the local franchisee to expand in the region, considering the positive performance of existing stores in the regional capital, Ormoc City in western Leyte, and Calbayog City in Samar.
“I really encourage him because we need to bring that positive feeling to Tacloban on that very difficult time and I am happy to say that Bo’s had played a small part to bring that vibe back to the city,” Benitez said on Monday.
The coffee shop’s franchisee, Wilson Uy, said up for opening are stores at Tacloban Airport’s departure area and near the government center in Palo town, adding to the existing four branches in the region.
The biggest of the four branches, which is also the biggest in the country with 120 seats, is located at the newly-opened shop along Imelda Veteranos St.
The continuing expansion of Bo’s Coffee operation in Eastern Visayas, especially in Tacloban, shows that the local economy is getting more vibrant, which makes it good for business expansion and investment, said Uy.
Benitez said operating in the region also shows the resiliency of their business, which suffered major losses when Super Typhoon Yolanda struck the city on Nov. 8, 2013.
“Four months after Yolanda, Bo’s Coffee was able to operate, providing people of Tacloban. Members of the international community who were helping in the rehabilitation activities came to taste coffee products traditionally produced by Filipinos,” he added.
Founded in 1996 in Cebu City, the coffee shop is one of the top companies that source their coffee beans from Filipino farmers -- from the highlands of Sagada, Bukidnon, Benguet, Mt. Apo, Mt. Kitanglad, and Mt. Matutum in South Cotabato. (PNA)
