Potato Corner coming to Taiwan, Laos

Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (SPAVI) is expanding its global footprint with plans to bring its flagship kiosk brand, Potato Corner, to Taiwan and Laos — two new markets the company sees with strong growth potential.

At a media briefing following its annual stockholders meeting on Thursday, SPAVI President and CEO Vicente Gregorio said the company has finalized franchise agreements for both countries, which supports its strategy to grow overseas and diversify revenue streams.

“These are two exciting markets we believe would also have some ability to scale. We are taking our own brands, and we are very proud, in a way, and with a lot of national pride, of taking a Filipino brand to different markets,” Gregorio said.

He added that the overseas expansion will reduce SPAVI’s dependence on the Philippine market while also diversifying financially, particularly in terms of currency exposure.

The move follows the company’s recent entry into Malaysia, where its local partner opened over a dozen Potato Corner stores in less than a year. Gregorio noted that the Malaysia franchisee also operates in Thailand, which reflects the confidence in the brand.

While the company has not set a specific revenue target for its international segment, management expects continued expansion as more stores open and mature.

This year alone, SPAVI is on track to open over 400 stores worldwide which is equivalent to more than one store per day. Most of the openings are expected in the second half of the year, aligned with retail cycles and mall launches.

SPAVI now operates in 15 international markets and has around 400 Potato Corner stores globally. Its international business contributes about 20 percent of total sales and is outpacing domestic growth.

Gregorio said the company remains open to strategic acquisitions, but emphasized that its current portfolio already offers a strong runway for double-digit growth in the years ahead.