Fruitas to diversify into grilled chicken, fresh store businesses

Food and beverage kiosk operator Fruitas Holdings Inc. (FHI) on Wednesday announced plans to diversify its business further to include a fresh store concept and grilled chicken stores.

In a statement, FHI said it is set to launch new stores -- Babot's Farm and a grilled chicken concept based on its recent acquisitions, Heat Stroke Grill, and Kuxina Ihaw Na.

"Babot's Farm is a collection of fresh products which Fruitas is excited to serve to Filipino consumers. Our mission is to make fresh products easily accessible to Filipinos," said FHI president and chief executive officer Lester Yu.

Babot's Farm will initially have three major verticals -- soy line Soy & Bean which sells fresh soy milk, tofu, taho, and soy-based ice cream; Fruitas' Buko-based beverages; and fresh dairy.

"We are equally excited with our impending entry into the chicken business. We are confident that we can enter the market in a cost-effective manner yet come up with a well-loved product," Yu stated.

According to FHI, it will leverage on the strong demand for the chicken, which has been proven as the lead protein in the Philippine food service industry.

At present, FHI has over 20 brands in its portfolio including Fruitas Fresh, Buko Loco, Buko ni Fruitas, De Original Jamaican Pattie, Johnn Lemon, Juice Avenue, Black Pearl, Friends Fries, The Mango Farm, 7,107 Halo Halo Islands, Shou La Mien Hand Pulled Noodles, and Sabroso Lechon.—AOL/MDM, GMA News