CEBU’S robust economy and improvement of the country’s investment grade status has made more local entrepreneurs to try and position themselves as early as now for the expected boom two to three years from now.
Among them is the La Cosa Nostra Inc., the group owned by the Dychancos, who own and operate three Italian restaurant and bar chains—Anzani, Bellini and Dolce.
The group introduced the latest addition to their restaurant group—the Gusto Urban Cafe and Wine Bar.
Kate Dychanco-Anzani said last Tuesday that they saw Cebu’s business landscape evolve and grow so fast in the past year, and they would be expecting more growth in the years to come.
“We think the market of Cebu has expanded all together, and it is really the best time for local businessmen like us to start investing and positioning our businesses before other investments from outside will start pouring in,” said Dychanco-Anzani.
P4.5 million
She said the group invested P4.5 million for the first Gusto outlet which recently opened at the ground floor of the Calyx Center at the Cebu IT Park.
She said Gusto was the first business venture of the group serving the middle income market particularly the call center agents at the IT Park.
Marco Anzani said since this was the first time for them to cater to the market, they were still trying to make more adjustments like in their operations time to suit the market.
“Now we’re open by 8 a.m and close at 2 a.m. and we offer breakfast combo meals. We also have coffee and teas and Italian dishes that are not as pricey as that in Anzani,” Anzani said.
He said the first three businesses were aimed at the high-end market such as the Anzani at Nivel Hills, which is an Italian fine-dining restaurant.
expansion
Anzani said they planned to open three more Gusto outlets next year.
“We are looking at Mactan Newtown Center for another outlet and on the lookout for other feasible areas to open,” he said.
In the long term, the group is also looking at the possibility of offering the business for franchising.
“We are looking at that and now we are working on how to make the system work. We’re using this as a platform to develop into something for franchising,” said Dychanco-Anzani.
GROWTH DRIVERS
The booming outsourcing industry, the improving business climate and the opening of the new airport by 2016 are some factors that the group is looking at to benefit their business.
“The investment grade status of the country will surely attract more investments here like outsourcing companies, that would mean more people in Cebu working so an expanded market. The airport will make investment a lot attractive here in Cebu especially that Manila is already congested,” said Dychanco-Anzani./Reporter Aileen Garcia-Yap