TCE opens first Cebu branch

Despite the number of coffee shops sprouting everywhere in the city, the growing number of coffee lovers prompted The Coffee Experience to open its first branch in Cebu.

TCE, which pioneered the on-site espresso bar concept in the Philippines, has been operating for the past 16 years but is generally available only in the Luzon and Mindanao areas.

Operating under CX Food Enterprises, Jason Arcangel, TCE Manager for Franchise Operations and Business Development said that they mostly have the younger generation both for their customers and for their partners.

Arcangel said during the opening of the first branch in Cebu in JRG Bldg., Gen. Maxilom Ave. , that they have starting entrepreneurs or young professionals as franchisees for their coffee shops.

He said that this is an advantage since the young generation have very fresh ideas on business and that they are also keen on partnering with them since it is a good way for the young people to have good investments for their money.

Arcangel said that they are very careful though on choosing their partner, which explains why it is only now that they brought TCE in Cebu.

For the Cebu Branch, they have partnered with five young professionals working under the name Coffeeworks Buddies Co. namely Dr. Marilyn Campano, Dr. Ireen Abellana, Daryl Mary Sia, Architect Gerrard Bobbeck Sia and Lyn Abellana.

Campano, the managing director of the group, said that they came up with the idea of opening a coffeeshop because they all are coffee lovers.

She said that they were very eager when TCE emailed them back since they knew that it was a good company considering that it was already present even before foreign companies have come to Cebu .

Campano shared that they have invested around P1.4 million for the shop and they are all optimistic that they would be able to have the return of investment in a year since they have unique products and they have a good location with a malls, hotels and companies around them.

Another Partner, Daryl Sia, explained that since they have very affordable prices, which is around 30 percent less than the other existing coffeeshops, they would be able to have the support of their target market which is the younger generation.

Sia shared that with the different concept of TCE and the location different from the rest which is mostly in the malls, they are optimistic of the anticipation that they could have from the public.

TCE Manager Arcangel shared that TCE has been known as a ‘to-go’ coffeeshop but with the Cebu branch, they are also offering free Wi-fi connection for their dine in customers. —AJ de la Torre