Shakey’s Pizza to set foot in Singapore

Listed casual dining restaurant chain Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (SPAVI) will be setting its foot on the Philippines’ Southeast Asian neighbor, Singapore.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday, SPAVI said it recently signed a franchising agreement that will allow it to enter the Singaporean market.

The company said it will be opening its first Singapore store in Lucky Plaza mall, on iconic Orchard Road, following a seven-year deal with Singapore’s Brenrich Pte. Ltd.

“We are thrilled to restart our international franchise journey in Singapore, which is at the forefront of global recovery, and we are fortunate to have Brenrich as our franchisee partner in the Lion City, given their rich experience in the restaurant industry,” said Vicente Gregorio, SPAVI president and CEO.

Brenrich director Wong Ban Ming said he was “very happy and excited to bring Shakey's to Singapore.”

“We are certain that many locals, and especially the overseas Filipinos, miss Shakey’s, and this will bring back a sense of nostalgia,” Wong said.

Wong is also managing director of Asian Foodmall and franchisee of Tapa King Singapore.

Gregorio, meanwhile, said that “while the COVID-19 pandemic is presenting challenges to food companies like Shakey’s, it is also ‘serving as an impetus to turn a crisis into an opportunity’.”

Shakey’s Lucky Plaza restaurant is set to open late in the second quarter or early in the third quarter of 2021, according to SPAVI.

The branch will offer Shakey’s entire menu, including its thin crust pizzas and iconic chicken and mojos, although some items will be tweaked to comply with halal standards in consideration of Singapore’s large Muslim population.

Jose Arnold Alvero, SPAVI vice president for international operations and franchising, said that the primary target market initially will be Filipinos living in the city-state.

“But the Lucky Plaza outlet is also seen to attract Singaporeans, as it is located along a busy business district,” Alvero said.

”We have no doubt that Singapore’s discerning guests will be WOW-ed with what Shakey’s brings to the table in terms of building the brand, people, and the store,” he added.

Shakey’s currently has three stores outside the Philippines.

It opened its first store in the Philippines in 1975 and now has 242 stores across the Philippines.

— LA, GMA News