BIZ BUZZ: Potato Corner sizzles globally with kiosk blitz
Potato Corner just picked up fresh trophies—but market watchers say the bigger takeaway is how fast those fries are spreading.
The Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. unit bagged two awards at the QSR Media Asia Awards 2026, including Multi-Site Restaurant of the Year, citing its aggressive expansion at home and abroad.
On paper, it looks like another PR win. But dig deeper, and it’s really about scale.
In 2025 alone, the brand grew its Philippine footprint to over 2,100 stores—opening nearly one kiosk a day. About 80 percent are franchised, showing how the group is leaning on partners to fuel growth.
Overseas, Potato Corner is quietly building a global presence, ending the year with 470 stores across 16 markets, from Southeast Asia to North America.
That includes new footholds like Taiwan, where early sales reportedly exceeded expectations, and tougher markets like Myanmar, where expansion continued despite headwinds.
Even more telling is how the brand tweaks its menu depending on location—think Mala fries in Singapore or local street-food-inspired flavors in Thailand.
Industry observers say this “localized global” playbook is what keeps the concept exportable without losing relevance.
Back home, Potato Corner is also doubling down on younger consumers, tapping social media personalities like Niana Guerrero to keep the brand sticky among Gen Z.
For Shakey’s, the kiosk model offers a low-capital expenditure, high-return expansion route—very different from the heavy investments needed for full-service restaurants.
So yes, the awards matter. But for investors, the real buzz is whether this rapid-fire expansion can keep delivering without stretching the brand too thin.
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