by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 17, 2022 | Business
TIMES SQUARE, NEW YORK CITY, USA. 12 August 2022 – Another first in its international expansion plan, homegrown restaurant chain Jollibee will open in the heart of the iconic Times Square, New York on August 18, 2022. The newest store opening forms part of the Jollibee Group’s aggressive overseas expansion and sustained growth in one of its key pillar markets, North America.
Also known as the “Crossroads of the World,” Times Square is a top global commercial and entertainment hub. Jollibee Times Square will be located right beside Good Morning America and in the Bowtie, where the famous New Year’s Eve Ball Drop takes place. The store is expected to attract new fans and introduce the brand to more mainstream American customers.
“We are excited to spread the joy of eating to everyone and contribute to the diverse and exciting food scene in Times Square,” shared Maribeth Dela Cruz, Jollibee Group’s President for Philippine Brands (Jollibee, Chowking, and Red Ribbon) in North America.
The Times Square branch will offer Jollibee menu favorites, including the world-famous Chickenjoy fried chicken and Chicken Sandwich – each with its own spicy variant, and other favorites such as Peach Mango Pie and Jolly Spaghetti.
Now with 84 locations across North America and over 1,500 restaurants worldwide, Jollibee continues to grow its presence in the U.S. and Canada, with plans of reaching 500 stores in the next five to seven years. Jollibee is the flagship brand of the Jollibee Group, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing restaurant companies. To learn more about Jollibee and other brands of the Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 16, 2022 | Business
Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) — the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country — is bolstering the company’s food safety culture. It benefits its people and customers in the long term, following the launch of its food safety education campaign.
PCPPI plants implemented the Talas ng Kaalaman on Food Safety program. It is to strengthen the knowledge of its employees on the standard food safety procedures. The goal is to improve its operations responsibly and sustainably.
Frederick Ong, President and CEO of Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc.
“PCPPI is committed to meeting the highest food safety and quality standards. This is the reason we continuously implement programs and workshops that would improve the skills of our people. We ensure that they too become ambassadors of our food safety culture,” said Frederick D. Ong, PCPPI President and CEO.
The information campaign was executed through Facebook, bulletin board posts, and email blasts.
- It provided comprehensive information about food safety culture.
- It informed how to fight food fraud, product protection, good manufacturing practices, and allergen management.
- It highlighted some of the cleaning practices.
These include the pest control process, proper waste disposal, and locker sanitation and maintenance.
Throughout the program, PCPPI conducted random ambush interviews with employees. This is to measure their grasp of the food safety system. It recognized the departments with the cleanest space and well-informed personnel on the importance of food safety.
Aside from this, PCPPI completed the Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) for its Metro Operations Services, Pampanga, Rosario, STRO, Davao, and Bacolod plants. The FSSC is a globally accepted standard. It recognizes companies’ processes that are at par with global standards — from employee selection to production and warehousing. Its goal is to evaluate the systems in place to ensure food safety.
PCPPI also assures that their products are safe for consumption as all PCPPI plants have the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) License to Operate. All PCPPI products also have a valid certificate of product registration. The company also recently completed other third-party food safety and social welfare audits. Some of these are the McDonald’s Safe Water System (SWS) and Supplier Quality Management System (SQMS) for the PCPPI San Fernando plant. It manufactures and sells well-known brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Tropicana, Lipton, and Premier.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 15, 2022 | Business
Foodies need not look any further if they want to enjoy the best of Filipino food and more. B Hotel Alabang’s Prime Café offers the Philippines’ most sought-after dishes as well as other favorites from around the country.
This boutique hotel in Alabang may not be the largest in the area, but it is packed with everything you need in the city. A relaxing and homey accommodation, an outdoor Jacuzzi for ultimate relaxation, a gym, a function room that can accommodate up to 80 persons, a well-known Filipino restaurant, and a Pastry Corner for the best-baked concoctions in the Metro.
“We take pride in providing good quality of service. Being the number 1 TripAdvisor hotel in the Alabang area is an honor for us, and I believe that this achievement is proof of the quality of hospitality that we have always strived to provide our guests,” said Ms. Glennis Narciso, Hotel Manager of B Hotel Alabang during a media get together.
One aspect of their service that they are highlighting is their very own restaurant – Prime Café. This restaurant offers an impressively wide variety of dishes and of particular note is the top-notch Filipino cuisine that it is known for. Their chefs headed by Sous Chef Andrea Urcia put their heart into every dish that they serve, especially the ones that boast rich flavors.
Prime Café offers buffets and Bistro a la carte and is open daily from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm. Lunch buffets are scheduled every Friday from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm and cost only Php 750 per person. They also offer breakfast buffets every weekend from 6:00 am to 10:00 am which only costs Php 650 per person.
And even if you are in the North area, you may still get to taste the best Filipino and also international cuisine at B Hotel in Quezon City headed by Executive Sous Chef Vincent Odejar. The Lobby Café in B Hotel Quezon City is known for specializing in international cuisine that will surely give you a delicious journey for your taste buds. Serving ala-carte dishes and buffet breakfasts, the Lobby Café is also a feast for the eyes as it is to the tummy. It has also a cool vibe that perfectly matches the hotel’s industrial architecture.
B Hotel Alabang and B Hotel Quezon City are 4-star hotels that are both managed by Bellevue Hotels & Resorts. If you are looking for great amenities and exceptional service at a price that won’t break the bank, these hotels are definitely your best choices.
For inquiries and reservations, you may contact B Hotel Alabang at (+632) 8828 8181 or visit www.bhotelalabang.com, and B Hotel Quezon City at (+632) 8990 5000 or visit www.bhotelqc.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 4, 2022 | Business
For GCash, the leading fintech company, employee wellness, and culture-building are as important as its business operations. Along with the growth of the company as an organization is the rise of its employee engagement, an aspect of the company that GCash takes seriously.
While every company is challenged to drive better performance, especially amidst the pandemic, GCash has great faith in its people and vice versa. This mutual trust is not only manifested in the business achievements of GCash but also in the recent employee engagement survey results as the organization reached a high of 91 points. This is above the global norm score of 89 based on the Willis Towers Watson surveys of companies across the globe and a huge increase compared to the company’s employee engagement score in 2020 which was 83.
Chief People Officer (CPO) Robert Gonzales explained what this increase means to the G Nation and what it means for the company. “It says a lot about how supportive and caring the leadership team of GCash is and how connected the G Nation is. This is a display and proof of how our purpose of making Filipino lives better does not only apply to our customers but, most importantly, to our employees as well,” Gonzales shared.
Along with the increase in GCash’s employee engagement rating is the organization’s growth in terms of the employee population. From 756 employees in 2020, GCash recorded an additional 393 new hires in 2021. To date, the fintech company employs more than a thousand employees.
The growth in employee headcount is a sign of the expansion of GCash’s financial services. And even if the company expands and grows, employee well-being will still and will always be a top priority in GCash’s people agenda.
The nation has seen the iconic rise of the GCash brand in the last two years. Amidst the pandemic, GCash has grown exponentially. Its current registered users are 60 million, or 70% of the Filipino adult population. It has evolved from an e-wallet to a super financial and lifestyle app, allowing customers to more than just pay bills and transfer money. They can also secure loans, pay in installments, invest, save, get health insurance, and purchase from a vast array of merchants.
From the latest financial reports released to the public, GCash has now attained profitability way ahead of its target date. The company has achieved all these while remaining faithful to its vision of financial inclusion, and its purpose of making Filipinos’ everyday lives better.
About GCash
GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Financial App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, customers can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1,400k partner billers; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 5M partner merchants and social sellers; cash-in and cash-out at 232k partner agent network; and get access to savings, credit, insurance and invest money all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.).
GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) and by the IDC in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 60 million Filipinos in the country today.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 30, 2022 | Business
OurCrowd, Israel’s most active venture platform, and Einhorn Resources Inc, a Philippine investment firm, today announced a partnership that will provide Einhorn clients direct access to OurCrowd’s exclusive investments and mentorships to facilitate the growth of Philippine start-ups.
The partnership was signed in Tel Aviv, Israel, between Dan Bennett, OurCrowd’s General Partner & Managing Director of Australia and Asia, and Jean Henri Lhuillier, Einhorn Resources Inc CEO.
“This new partnership is an exciting opportunity to extend our pipeline into the vibrant investment community in the Philippines and to help nurture its startup ecosystem,” said Dan Bennett. “Einhorn Resources’ deep knowledge of the Philippine investment landscape will be instrumental to bringing our top-tier technology talent to that part of the world.
“Not only are we raising money for these opportunities both in Israel, the US, and beyond, but this is an important opportunity for corporates and family offices to invest from the Philippines and to attract technology that will benefit their core business.”
This collaboration, the first of its kind in the Philippines, provides Einhorn clients direct access to one of the world’s leading online venture platforms. OurCrowd currently has $1.9 billion in commitments and has deployed capital to more than 347 portfolio companies and 39 funds in five continents. It also has 200,000 registered members from 195 countries which it allows to participate in vetted and early-stage firms and funds.
Currently, plans are being made to set up a regional incubator that will give growth opportunities to Philippine startups looking for Israeli tech expertise.
“We are excited to work with OurCrowd to pave the way for stronger ties for investment opportunities, traditional companies, and tech solution collaborations,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier. “The partnership aims to open the funnel to a Philippine network of investors who can choose relevant companies to invest in as well as customize an online portfolio.”
Einhorn Resources Inc oversees multiple investments in agriculture, fintech, education, healthcare, real estate, and software, directly or through funds, with investments in Europe, the US, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the Philippines.
For more details, visit the OurCrowd website at OurCrowd.com or email us at le**@******wd.com and ei*****************@***il.com. You may also contact OurCrowd at +44 747 019 6826.
About OurCrowd:
OurCrowd is the online global venture investing platform that empowers institutions and individual accredited investors to invest and engage in emerging technology companies at an early stage. Acclaimed by PitchBook as the most active venture investor in Israel, OurCrowd vets and selects companies across all sectors and stages, invests its own capital, and provides its global platform of over 215,000 registered members from 195 countries.
Founded by CEO Jon Medved in 2013 with the vision of democratizing world-class venture capital investing, OurCrowd has grown rapidly into the world’s leading online venture investing platform and as of 2021 has received over $1.9 billion in commitments, and deployed capital into more than 347 portfolio companies and 39 funds across five continents.
To date, OurCrowd’s startups have recorded 59 exits including several stock market listings: Beyond Meat, Lemonade, Innoviz, Hub Security; and numerous high-profile acquisitions: JUMP by Uber, BriefCam by Canon, Argus by Continental, Crosswise by Oracle, Replay by Intel, Corephotonics by Samsung, CyberX by Microsoft, and Kenna Security by Cisco. OurCrowd builds value for its portfolio companies throughout their lifecycles, providing mentorship, recruiting industry advisors, navigating follow-on rounds, and creating growth opportunities through its network of multinational partnerships.
About Einhorn Resources Inc:
Einhorn Resources Inc. is a management company that oversees investments in companies of diversified industries in its portfolio. Investments in companies such as DailyPay, World Chef, FutureBank, Kennemer Foods Inc, Xepto Education, Kini, Crowded, KITA, Carbon6, ReWire, and SaNOtize to name a few.
Aside from investment recommendations and management, the group is in constant search of solutions to help improve growth in transactions, revenue, and valuation of companies within their network.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 28, 2022 | Business
The challenges brought about by the pandemic have pushed many businesses around the world to innovate new ways and means to capture their market. While eCommerce continues to prosper in various countries where COVID-19 is getting manageable such as the Philippines, this has paved the way for some other start-up businesses to get recognized and establish a brand that caters to the new needs in this new normal.
With health and safety remaining a top priority amongst households and businesses, the local brand Mr. Cool of Mr. Zolutions, Inc. continues to grow with the expansion of its brand not only in the Philippines but also abroad, specifically in the United States of America. Since its introduction in the market in 2018, Mr. Cool Aromas has been showcasing a strong presence in the market with its in-demand products including car aromas and disinfectants.
Seizing Every Opportunity
“We want our products to be a part of every vehicle not only here in the Philippines, but also abroad. We believe that through this Dealership Package, we will be to help aspiring business-minded Filipinos start their journey with us while we keep strengthening our presence in the market, and continuously providing our customers with quality products that will keep them safe and happy anytime, anywhere,” Mr. Zolutions, Inc.’s Founder and CEO Mr. Vinson Perea said.
With over half a million bottles already sold in the market since 2018, Mr. Cool is set to achieve its vision of being a major brand offering unique, relevant, value for money, and high-quality products that have great benefits and satisfaction to customers. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines, Mr. Cool’s products are currently available through different physical stores such as Unimart, FamilyMart, Rapide Auto Service Experts, Total, Petron, and Shell, as well as in popular online channels among Filipinos such as Shopee and Lazada.
Mr. Cool also partnered with public and private organizations to provide additional safety and quality scents to their daily operations. These include the Cities of Manila and San Juan, Honda Philippines, and NLEX.
Set to Grow Bigger
“We believe that our products have a great potential to capture the international market, hence this year, we are bullish that we will be able to establish our presence in the US, while our footprint in the Philippines expands through various distributorship programs,” shared Ms. Ma. Concepcion Tejada, Founder, and COO of Mr. Zolutions, Inc.
To grow with its customers who have been the brand’s greatest ally since its launch, Mr. Cool now offers its Distributor’s Package, which serves as an entry-level to start earning through well-loved Mr. Cool products. For only PHP6,050, aspiring entrepreneurs can own Mr. Cool’s Dealership Package, which includes top-selling premium items from Mr. Cool and Mr. Fresh Helmet Freshener. Aside from that, training, product knowledge, and salesmanship will also be provided to those who will avail of this package. Marketing collaterals such as testers and tarpaulin are also included to further boost its new partners to establish the brand.
Mr. Cool of Mr. Zolutions, Inc.’s corporate office is located at #54 J. Perez St., Project 4, Quezon City while the production facility is in Cupang, Antipolo City, Philippines.
For more information about Mr. Cool’s Dealership package, they can be reached at:
They can also be reached on their international social media accounts:
Reach out now and be a part of the Mr. Cool family.
GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Financial App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, customers can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1,400k partner billers; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 5M partner merchants and social sellers; cash-in and cash-out at 232k partner agent network; and get access to savings, credit, insurance and invest money all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.).
To grow with its customers who have been the brand’s greatest ally since its launch, Mr. Cool now offers its Distributor’s Package, which serves as an entry-level to start earning through well-loved Mr. Cool products. 
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