Restaurant group allots P60M for new outlets

A food attendant piles the food display at The Abaca Baking Company Cafe & Coffee in this March 2015 photo. (CDN FILE PHOTO)

The Abaca Group has set aside P60 million for two new concepts and four new locations this year.

“We are looking to expand more with all our brands and we want to do that efficiently. We don’t want to also overexpand,” said Abaca Group founder Jason Hyatt.

The group recently introduced new concepts called Luncheonette and Abaca Baking Company (ABC) Cafe & Coffee House. Luncheonette is a 50s diner that offers breakfast-all-day dishes and sandwiches.

The first branch of ABC Cafe opened in Crossroads in Banilad last April while Luncheonette opened in Robinson’s Cybergate last Tuesday. Two other ABC Cafe outlets will open within the year.

Hyatt said they will open more outlets in the malls.

“We’re starting with the Robinsons malls (Cybergate and Galleria) and eventually, we will be going towards opening outlets in the major malls,” he said.

Further expansion through franchising is under study, Hyatt said. Another option is to forge partnerships, such as their arrangement for the Phat Pho Vietnamese Kitchen in Manila.

“We are looking for strategic partners. I have one in Manila and we’re looking for one more. We also think that we should be in Cagayan (de Oro) and Davao,” said Hyatt.

Other brands under the Abaca Group are Maya Mexican Restaurant, Beqaa Middle Eastern Restaurant, and Tavolata Italian Restaurant.

he group is also working on The Reef hotel and residences in Mactan.

“We are still on track with the target opening of the hotel by end of 2016,” Hyatt said.

He said they were collaborating with designer Kenneth Cobonpue. The 22-story hotel and condominium is being developed by NextLand in partnership with Budji and Royal.