Fruitas eyes strong sales during holiday season

MANILA, Philippines — Fruitas Holdings Inc. anticipates strong sales this holiday season after posting its highest monthly sales in November since quarantine restrictions were imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Outlet sales in November rose 59 percent ahead of last year’s level,  while average daily sales per company-owned store in November soared 88 percent.

Fruitas  president and CEO Lester Yu said the company anticipates the seasonal uptick from the Christmas season, including lechon sales, to contribute to a better performance in December.

“We are glad to see the results of our efforts to pivot our business during the pandemic.  The introduction of community stores diversified our channels and complements our presence in high foot traffic locations such as malls, offices and terminals.  We expect to benefit from the continuing recovery of the economy and further easing of quarantine restrictions,” Yu said.

The company attributed the increase in average daily sales per store to the introduction of community stores and the permanent closure of unprofitable kiosks.

Fruitas met its target to open more than 100 community stores this year, with the acquisition of The Tofu Store, re-branded to Soy & Bean in February 2020 and Balai Pandesal in June 2021.

The Tofu Store and Balai Pandesal only had two and five stores, respectively, at time of acquisition, but the company has aggressively grown the network of both brands.

At present, it  operates over 25 brands in its portfolio, which includes well-loved food concepts Fruitas Fresh from Babot’s Farm, 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, Tea Rex, Kuxina, SHOU La Mien Hand-Pulled Noodles, and Sabroso Lechon.

The company  recently launched Fruitas dairy-based ice cream and the Soy & Bean soy product line, including Soy & Bean soy-based ice cream, and is opening a number of Babot’s Farm,Soy & Bean and Balai Pandesal community stores.