Three more warehouse clubs, 20 stand alone pizza parlors planned for next year
S & R’s New York Style Pizza Parlor opens in Ayala Center Mall. (CDN PHOTO/ DOMINIC YLAGAN)
S&R is looking to aggressively expand its number of warehouse clubs and pizza parlors in the Philippines.
Kelly Ricks, vice president of S&R and head of operations, said that they are planning to put up three warehouse clubs and as many as 20 free standing pizza parlors next year.
“We’re a large corporation, we’re expanding extremely fast and we’re very aggressive,” he said, during the opening of Ayala Center Cebu’s own S&R pizza parlor. The pizza parlor is said to be the first stand alone store for S&R in the Visayas.
The newly opened pizza parlor in Ayala Center Cebu has 35 tables and can accommodate at least 200 people.
He added that while there are no definite dates yet on the opening of the three new warehouse clubs, they are looking at opening one in Cagayan de Oro in second quarter of next year, in Iloilo in the third quarter and in Cabanatuan in fourth quarter of the year.
As for the 20 free standing parlors, they will be dotted all over the Philippines, near the warehouse clubs.
S&R is also looking at a partnership with SM in 2016, Ricks said.
While the company is still working very closely with Ayala for the time being, it is open to partnerships with other big malls in the Philippines.
“SM is the only people that we haven’t gotten in malls with, but it’s only because we’ve been so busy with all the others. They’ve certainly been in contact with us. They’ve been making offers, and we certainly feel that we should probably be in their malls too,” he said.
Other malls the company has partnered with include Robinsons, Filinvest and Megaworld.
Asked if there will be any other S&R establishments opening within the year, the executive said that they are looking to officially open another warehouse in Laguna on November 14. All other developments will be for next year.
Pizza Boom
Ricks said that pizza parlors were not common in the Philippines before, but this changed in the recent years, with more food chains opening independent pizza parlors in the country.
“Over the last 20 years I’ve seen a change in the habits of all Filipinos – in the foods they’re eating. Pizzas have become extremely popular, and I think you will continue to see all of the big chains opening stores as fast as they can,” he said.