Fruitas eyes expansion by opening more stores and product diversification

Philippines’ leading food kiosk operator, Fruitas Holdings Inc. is expanding its product line as well as opening new stores amidst the pandemic.
It had signed agreements with other companies to expand its product line and creating synergies. For example, it has agreed to carry local ice cream brand Carmen’s Best in its selected locations. Similar arrangements were also made for Malaysia’s Jim’s Recipe sponge cake.
Fruitas is also working with a Chinese bakery to produce mooncake under the Soy & Bean brand. It is building a new production facility for its soy products.
Fruitas is also looking to introduce branded nuts, coffee beans and cacao beans at its Babot’s Farm stores. It plans to open 25 new stores by end 2020.
Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, Fruitas had partnered with Pan de Manila, Bukidnon Milk Company and PeriPeri Corp. to expand its distribution channels.
It has allocated Pesos 270 million (US$5.57 million) for capital expenditure to convert and expand its stores.
Fruitas posted a net loss of Pesos 12.3 million (US$254,000) during the 1st half 2020 due to the pandemic which forced most of its stores to close, compared to healthy profit made in the same period last year.
As of end 2019, it had 1,068 stores distributed across more than 20 brands such as Fruitas Fresh from Babot’s Farm, Buko Loco, De Original Jamaican Pattie, Johnn Lemon, Juice Avenue, Black Pearl and Sabroso Lechon.