Fruitas makes 2 more acquisitions

MANILA, Philippines — Newly-listed food and beverage kiosk operator Fruitas Holdings Inc. (Fruitas) continues to expand with two new acquisitions.

In a disclosure yesterday, Fruitas said it has acquired 100 percent of the outstanding shares of SoyKingdom Inc., a privately-held corporation carrying The Tofu Store brand and specializing in soybean-related products.

Fruitas subsidiary Negril Trading Inc., operator of De Original Jamaican Pattie Shop and Juice Bar, lacquired the assets of Kuxina, a stall concept specializing in Filipino dishes.

The Tofu Store branches are located in Little Baguio, San Juan and Sta. Mesa Heights, Quezon City. The company offers soy milk, taho, tofu, and other soybean-related products. The Tofu Store has been serving customers since 2006 and has gained a loyal following among its patrons, which also includes restaurants.

Fruitas expects rosy prospects for the freshly made and conveniently available soymilk, taho, tofu, and other soybean-related products as more Filipinos discover its versatility as a standalone beverage or snack and key ingredient in everyday meals.

Negril Trading, meanwhile, will take over the operations of two owned stores of Kuxina, operating under the Kuxina Filipino Fusion and Kuxina Ihaw Na! brands, in Fruitas’ own Le Village lifestyle food park along E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City.

Kuxina will complement Sabroso Lechon, and Heat Stroke Gril.

“Our 18th year in the kiosk business is a testament of our ability to innovate and identify suitable additions to our portfolio, unified by our vision to be woven into the fabric of daily lives of Filipinos. We will further strengthen our existing brands and seamlessly integrate our latest acquisitions, broadening our offerings to include both traditional and contemporary Filipino food and drinks,” said Fruitas president Lester Yu.

The Fruitas Group has been expanding its product line by introducing new brands such as Buko Loco and Johnn Lemon.

It also acquired the shares or assets of small companies like De Original Jamaican Pattie and Sabroso Lechon. It expanded De Original Jamaican Pattie from around 40 locations to about 160 stores currently. Fruitas reiterates its target to grow its network to 2,000 stores by 2023.