250 BO’S COFFEE SHOPS BY 2020
Entrepreneur Steve Benitez says they are awaiting President Rodrigo Duterte’s executive order that will create the Philippine Coffee Council to help boost coffee production in the country.
A homegrown coffee chain is looking to expand its reach in the Philippines and in the Middle East to provide more income to local farmers.
Bo’s Coffee founder and chief executive officer Steve Benitez said they are expanding their coffee shops with a target of 200 to 250 stores by 2020.
“We restarted our franchising model again after we formed a stronger team, hired more people and stabilized our systems. We are looking at franchise-based territories across the country,” Benitez said.
After they opened more branches in Cebu, he said that they are working hard to open more stores in Luzon.
“We only scratched the surface in Luzon,” he said.
As of now, the coffee chain has 103 stores nationwide.
Bo’s Coffee also recently expanded operations overseas with five branches in Qatar and is aiming to establish the presence of Philippine coffee in five more countries in the Middle East, Benitez said.
At least 80 percent of the coffee beans used in Bo’s are sourced from the highlands in the Philippines but Benitez said there is a need to educate and support local farmers in yielding quality beans.
“There is a lot of supply but limited supply of the good ones,” he said.
Pushing for global recognition of the Philippine coffee in the industry, Benitez said they are also awaiting President Rodrigo Duterte’s executive order that will create the Philippine Coffee Council.
“The main goal is to increase the farmers’ income and to do that, is to educate them on how to cultivate quality beans,” he said.
Bo’s recently opened its first-ever 300 square meter Tribute Store replacing the old coffee store at their Capitol branch.
From their homegrown coffee menu to the furniture from local artisans such as renowned industrial designer Kenneth Cobonpue, Bo’s Coffee aims to showcase Philippine products to local and foreign tourists.
It also features a core bar and an experience bar where customers can see how their coffee is brewed and their tea prepared.
“We want to showcase the best of Philippine artistry and talent in the most ambitious project we ever had. The tribute store is the commemoration and statement of the brand’s promise that this homegrown brand will continue to pave empowerment to the communities we serve,” he said.