BIZ BUZZ: Start of a new era for Conti’s

There wasn’t any media event to formally announce the change in ownership. But the new owner of Eight8Ate Holdings Inc., the holding firm for Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant and Wendy’s Philippines, had some sort of a coming-out party during the grand opening of Conti’s new branch at the Villar group’s Evia Lifestyle Center.

Health and wellness entrepreneur Crystal Jacinto gave a face to the name as the new boss appeared on the social media posts of the restaurant chain.

And while Dennis Uy of Davao already exited the company, we hear that the food and beverage (F&B) veteran that he had pirated from a Thai tycoon to run Eight8Ate six years ago would continue to captain the ship.

We’re talking about Joey Garcia, a guy who rose from the ranks and has gone a long way since crewing at McDonald’s three decades ago. He had worked for big F&B enterprises in Saudi Arabia and Thailand, before returning to the Philippines in 2018 to join Uy.

“The key to the success of Conti’s is the guy running it,” said an industry source familiar with the business.

Uy spotted Garcia, then working in Thailand for the Minor Food Group as head of international franchising at Southeast Asia and Middle East-North Africa, while on the prowl for a new restaurant to bring to the Philippines.

Uy never got to bring home any brand, but he got to poach a Filipino talent who’s an expert in running a big F&B chain.

“He’s a commissary guy,” the source said. “If you can manage 2,000 restaurants, then you’re really good.”

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It was auspicious for Eight8Ate to have someone like Garcia helming the business at that point in time. When the pandemic struck two years later, he didn’t disappoint, we hear.

Garcia joined his new principal during the opening of the Evia branch, while brand founders, Carole Conti-Sumulong and Angela Conti-Martinez, graced the occasion. (But you have to guess who’s who in the pictures, which are not captioned.)

The branch at Evia, by the way, is touted as the “biggest and prettiest” outlet of Conti’s to date.