Still Making Milestones: The FIGARO Coffee Group

The pandemic must have been hard for businesses and it did stay true with the Figaro Cofee Group. A few months ago, we were in the midst of their executives to see where their group is heading especially this 2024. The event was graced by Mr. Justin Liu the group's Chairman, Ms. Divine Cabuloy their CEO/President, Mr. Mike Barret their COO/EVP and Mr. Petronio Español III the Figaro Group's CFO.

Still Bullishly Expanding

During the pandemic, they have had really hard times as restaurants were either forced to close or not allowed to have dine in customers sans protocols implemented by the government. Though they have coffee shops, Chinese and other brands, their Angel's Pizza was a hit. It was so much of a hit that they had to absorb employees from different corporations who went in the verge of closing down and get them to work in their new branches. The pizza delivery industry sector went huge, and their flavor and food innovations proved positively good during those years. Today, the FIGARO Coffee Group owns 60 Figaro Coffee stores, 116 Angel's Pizza outlets, over 10 Tien Ma restaurants, and 6 Cafe Portofino branches nationwide. That's over 192 all in all, and they are strategically expanding outside the metro in places like Laguna, Pampanga, Rizal, Cebu, Pangasinan, Leyte, Bohol and Davao. They are thinking of more regions next year, and this expansion comes with careful planning and coordination so no quality would be sacrificed in any of their stores.

Financially Strong, Making Milestones

Their Chairman Justin Liu personally explained their recent milestones in terms of finances in the Figaro Group. Their 75% increase in revenues alone had our jaw dropped and they attribute it to the aggressive expansion projects they made outside Metro Manila. Aside from that, a 6% increase in existing stores has helped achieve great sales figures as compared to 2022, that's over Php 2.44 Billion albeit a decline in gross margins back in June which they attribute to inflation and expensive raw materials. Net income came at a whopping Php 462.6 Million because of their wise mitigation in costs and increase in volume (since they did expand stores), undoubtedly a really good reason to celebrate.


They also added the new Creamy Spinach Sushi Bake to the menu a few months ago. With it, is the highly successful Creamy Spinach Dip Pizza. They also launched the "Sama Sama Sa Angel's Pizza" jingle which I'm sure will add to the really good marketing ploys they launched. They also had a few more viands in their other brands plus Oat based drinks which will make the nutty success in their coffee brands.

This is just the start, and I felt there will be more stores for Angel's Pizza in the Visayas and Mindanao region in the coming months. Figaro really weathered through a storm, survived it, and is flourishing! 

Congratulations FIGARO Group!

YES MY LOVE Set to Perform in Singapore Today!

The boys from YES MY LOVE

Seeing Niko, Joshua, RZ, Jeff,  Eli, and Brian from Cornerstone Entertainment's boy group "Yes My Love" must have been a dream for a few, but it certainly happened to me a few days ago. It was an intimate performance with only a few peers from media seeing their performance for the first time as they embark in a concert to be held in Singapore (today at 2PM, you can still get tickets at sistic.com.sg) at the Esplanade Recital Studio in the Merlion state. 

It's called SPECTACLE! which they will do together with other PPOP and SPOP groups namely Estelle Fly, Alfred Sun, BINI, BGYO and XOXO. For those who don't know, Yes My Love was just formed a few months ago comprised of the defunct members of TOP Class and a few artists they put together from Cornerstone Entertainment's pool of talents. I didn't have to research much on their legitimacy because as soon as they opened their pipes, I just said WOW, these guys can really sing! Plus the fact that they were doing it with a routine that has so much vigor, sexy vibes, reminiscent of RnB and boyband groups in the 90's, but still have that energetic technical prowess and moves you would see in PPOP which makes them quite different from their peers in the business. Here's a two part interview we did with them after their short program, I hope you get to know them even better after this!

(My apologies in advanced as some parts may skip because resources on my phone might have caused it, I was uploading videos as I was recording and I only noticed when someone pointed it out on YT comments ha!)

Then we had a few naughty questions asked, something fans (143's which love them) would absolutely adore. 

I would like to take this bit and thank everyone at Cornerstone Entertainment for arranging this very intimate press conference so we'd be able to get to know the boys of YES MY LOVE. I can't wait to see them get the attention they deserve especially now that they have an international stint in happening in Singapore. As an extra treat, here's some post event shots from the nice boys of YES MY LOVE!

Now make sure you follow Cornerstone Entertainment's and YES MY LOVE's social channels for a good dose of love from these boys. Let them sing and dance their way to your heart now, and don't tell them that I already have my bias LOL. Again, if you're in Singapore, you can still catch them today!

Rising Above Challenges: Taberna Group of Companies

We felt a little happy about last night's event. I could tell there was so much thanksgiving as the Taberna Group of Companies held "Press Play" which signals their return to hosting events here and in different parts of the country.  It was so much fun as they showcased what Outbox Media Powerhouse Corporation can do as they celebrate their 16th year in the business. Ms. Roselle Taberna the Managing Director of Outbox Media Powerhouse Corporation says "I made a promise to all my loved ones that I will celebrate your milestones. I always want to make it count, and clients took notice on how we organize corporate events, from outdoor and indoor executions, multimedia and marketing needs, we got it covered. During the pandemic, we were affected, but you all trusted us to make content on demand. We kept producing clients need, and things are looking up, we now are celebrating life. To our clients and partners, thank you for staying with Outbox Media Powerhouse Inc. It is your dedication, hard work that made us who we are, I think of you as brothers, sisters, like family. Thank you for making us grow, thank you for the crazy ideas, I love you guys, with Press Play tonight, let me tour you in our new office."

Aside from that, they also are giving thanks to people who have supported "Ka Tunying's" who was able to successfully weather through the pandemic after losing branches, and now have 3 recovering, and much stronger market wise. Anthony Taberna the President and CEO of Taberna Group of Companies says "I am blessed to have a wife that knows how to work numbers, we are a growing and turning 7 years old tomorrow. I am glad to have been able to work with these people. Thank you!" During the height of the pandemic, Ka Tunying's really suffered. From 10 branches at the height of the company, it all closed and now, they were able to open 3 branches back up and is doing good in food service and catering. They took in the challenges of the pandemic, and slowly, they are recovering. In the last two years, they have new team players, and will be introducing Catering by KT in the market. 

 

And food was good!

They also announced the move of Dos Por Dos, a popular show (with Anthony Taberna and Gerry Baja) in DZRH that will be moved from its original 5-6:30PM slot to their new one at 6-8AM weekdays on the same station. This will also be streamed on their social channels as well. Outbox Media Powerhouse Corporation also announced the release of patriarch Anthony Taberna's music video made for his YouTube channel "Tune In Kay Ka Tunying" over at https://www.youtube.com/c/TuneInKayTunying that's got 594K subscribers and still growing. Anthony added "My daughter said that I shouldn’t stop doing what makes me happy. It’s why I do my Facebook livestreams and content creation on YouTube."

They are also celebrating the recent win of their daughter Zoey against the big C/Leukemia, which surely changed their life after a successful marrow transplant procedure in Singapore (her sister Helga donated). There was not a dry eye in the room as the daughters thanked their parents for the unending support they've given them on this ordeal. This was the perfect celebration of Mrs. Taberna's birthday as well, and as she said, she already got her wishes with Zoey's recovery. She thanked everyone who came and have supported them all these years.  They have survived a pretty tough time in their lives, and rose above the challenges with the help of their friends, vendors, supporters, family and church.

Congratulations to the Taberna Group of Companies for all the success they've gotten these past few years, cheers to more of your businesses and events from hereon out!