by Ferry Bayu | Aug 23, 2023 | Business
JFC says Tiong Bahru Bakery, Common Man Coffee Roasters won’t compete with CBTL
MANILA — Jollibee Foods Corp said on Tuesday its new bakery and coffee ventures won’t compete with its own brands.
In an earlier disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the country’s largest restaurant operator said it formed a joint venture with Food Collective Pte Ltd (FCPL) to bring Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man Coffee Roasters to the Philippines.
The Jollibee Group owns Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL). It also has an interest in Vietnamese brand Highlands Coffee.
During its second quarter earnings briefing, JFC Chief Financial Officer Richard Shin said they don’t see the recent investments cannibalizing the coffee market since the kinds of coffee and food products that will be served in these new stores would be quite different from what you would see in CBTL.
Tiong Bahru Bakery is famous for its hand-made croissants while Common Man Coffee Roasters is known for its specialty coffee.
“Common Man will be a different expression of coffee in that it’s closer to a more premium barista coffee,” Shin said. “That’s what it’s famous for and therefore it will not be competing with Highland Coffee or CBTL, but in fact, it’s a new segment,” he explained.
Shin also confirmed the two Asian brands would be coming to the country “soon.” He said the joint venture has been set up, the funding is ready, a location has been chosen, and they have a management and staffing plan for the bakery and coffee shop.
But unlike JFC’s other coffee brands, Shin said they’ll be keeping the number of branches for Tiong Bahru Bakery and Common Man small to reflect the boutique style the brands are known for in Singapore and Malaysia where there are less than 20 outlets.
by Ferry Bayu | Aug 23, 2023 | Business
Metrojaya Partners with TheNoor to Revolutionize Charitable Donations
Metrojaya, a prominent retail brand in Malaysia, is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with TheNoor, an innovative online app dedicated to transforming the Muslim lifestyle experience in. This landmark collaboration aims to bring about significant social impact by seamlessly integrating Tabarru, TheNoor’s groundbreaking donation platform, into Metrojaya departmental stores transforming the landscape of charitable donations.
Tabarru, an Arabic term meaning “mutual help,”
perfectly encapsulates the essence of this transformative partnership. By
joining forces, Metrojaya and TheNoor aspire to empower customers to make a difference
by incorporating charitable giving into their shopping experiences. With a
simple scan of the QR code in-store, Metrojaya shoppers now have the
opportunity to contribute to a wide range of causes supported by TheNoor,
encompassing education, healthcare, poverty alleviation, and environmental
conservation.
“We are delighted to partner with TheNoor, a company
that shares our unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on
society,” said Karen Mak, Head of Marketing at Metrojaya. “By
seamlessly integrating Tabarru into our platform, we aim to provide our
customers with a meaningful and effortless way to give back to their
communities. This partnership displays our dedication to responsible business
practices and our collective pursuit of a better future for all.”
“We are incredibly excited about this strategic
partnership with Metrojaya. Together, we are revolutionizing the way charitable
donations are made, empowering individuals to make a meaningful impact in their
communities through seamless integration with Tabarru, our unique donation
platform,” said Mohd Izzairi Yamin, CEO of TheNoor. “This
collaboration exemplifies our shared vision of creating a better future for
all. By leveraging Metrojaya’s extensive reach and customer base, we can inspire
and enable individuals to make significant contributions to causes that matter
to them. It’s about turning everyday activities like shopping into acts of
compassion and social change.”
Vickneswaran Balasubramaniam, General Manager, Noor Luminous
“The Metrojaya and TheNoor collaboration was made possible by mutual consulting
partner to both parties The Protinus Group. The Protinus Group have been a great partner in adding new
revenue streams, introducing new technology and establishing valuable strategic
partnerships.
They are a regional digital transformation company that
identified this social conscience programme, as a means to unfold the “giving
nature” of Malaysians. Tabarru marks a significant milestone in the retail
industry, bridging the gap between commerce and compassion. As Metrojaya and
The Noor continue to pioneer innovation and adapt to the evolving needs of its
customers, this partnership reaffirms our joint unwavering dedication to
corporate social responsibility, solidifying our respective positions as leaders
in the retail and lifestyle sectors”.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Syed Adam
+60125709640
ad**@*****or.co
About Noor Luminous Sdn Bhd
TheNoor (Noor Luminous Sdn Bhd) is Malaysia’s first-ever
Islamic lifestyle super app. TheNoor (which means light in Arabic) is a
Shariah-guided company with an aim to bring Muslims closer to Islam through
continuous learning and exposure to the teachings of Islam via fresh,
accessible, interactive, and individualized methods. Aside from helping users
achieve their spiritual commitment, the faith-based app hopes to help more
Muslims live a holistic lifestyle through its variety of in-app features.
TheNoor app is available for download on the Google Play Store, Huawei App
Gallery, and the Apple App Store. For more information about TheNoor, visit www.thenoor.co/my/
About The Protinus Group
The Protinus Group is a global business transformation
consultancy headquartered in Singapore. They are a next generation innovation greenhouse accelerating scale and
growth for companies with global ambitions. Among their esteemed Clients are
The Noor, MUI Group, Corus Hotels and Metrojaya Department Stores in Malaysia,
Michael van Clarke in the United Kingdom.

The Protinus Group is a global business transformation consultancy headquartered in Singapore. They are a next generation innovation greenhouse accelerating scale and growth for companies with global ambitions. Among their esteemed Clients are The Noor, MUI Group, Corus Hotels and Metrojaya Department Stores in Malaysia, Michael van Clarke in the United Kingdom.
Jheeva Subramanian
jh****@*********rp.com
+61022125160
https://www.protinusgrp.com/
by Ferry Bayu | Aug 22, 2023 | Business
Twimbit launches ‘CX Stars’, a global program to benchmark and celebrate exceptional customer experience (CX)
Twimbit launches “Twimbit CX Stars” program to acknowledge companies who deliver exceptional customer experiences. With Genesys as a founding partner, the program will set higher CX standards and host the ‘CX Stars Gala Dinner’ in Bangkok on October 11, 2023. Inspired by the Michelin Star Guide, it evaluates organizations across four CX pillars: brand, digital, employee, and service. CX Mastery ratings range from Proficient to Advanced and Exceptional. There are no nomination fees, no hidden charges, no licensing.
Twimbit CX Stars is built to recognise Exceptional CX and celebrate companies with the best-in-class CX platforms, processes and practices
The ‘Twimbit CX Stars’ program recognises CX as the key differentiator for today’s businesses. As CEOs continue to change the industry landscape with new CX practices, the necessity for a comprehensive benchmark has proven more than relevant in today’s landscape.
With Genesys as the founding partner, we are thrilled to elevate the standards of CX excellence and celebrate exceptional organisations at the ‘CX Stars Gala Dinner’ in Bangkok on 11th October 2023.
“Inspired by the Michelin Star Guide, the Twimbit CX Stars program aims to inspire companies to cultivate leading practices and build exceptional customer experience.” – Manoj Menon (Managing Director and Founder, Twimbit)
Led by independent, research-driven, analyst-led benchmarks, the Twimbit CX Stars program will evaluate leading companies within the realm of 4 essential CX pillars: brand, digital, employee, and service. The evaluation will involve secondary research, interviews with organisations on their CX practices & metrics, social engagement trends and mystery shopping. The benchmarking information & analysis will then be assessed and validated by a panel of external judges.
Organisations will be assessed using the Twimbit Exceptional CX Mastery scale and given a CX rating of 5 stars along with their CX Mastery status ranging from Proficient to Advanced and Exceptional (Exhibit 1).
At the CX Stars Gala Dinner, all Advanced and Exceptional CX Stars will be recognised and awarded, along with leading CX Stars from different industry verticals ranging from Banking, Telecoms, Insurance, Travel & Hospitality, Digital & eCommerce, and Government Services.
Twimbit will reveal the leading CX Stars on 11th October 2023, starting with organisations in Asia. Organisations are welcome to nominate themselves and be part of the benchmarking exercise. Get a Twimbit CX Star badge and be recognised for your CX Mastery. Submissions are free and are open till 31st August.
Exhibit 1: Twimbit Exceptional CX Mastery Scale and 4 CX Pillars

“We hope to provide a mechanism for organisations to know their CX benchmarks and strive to become an Exceptional CX organisation. We are happy to offer the first step in that journey to all organisations that aim to deliver best-in-class CX” – Manoj Menon (Managing Director and Founder, Twimbit)
Ready to be a CX Star? Sign up now and get started.
https://www.cxstars.twimbit.com
Twimbit is a research and advisory firm driven by a singular mission: to empower businesses making a difference. We specialize in providing invaluable industry intelligence to executives and teams, acting as a catalyst for innovation and growth. Twimbit’s proprietary research platform seeks to revolutionize the way enterprises consume insights, making it effortlessly enjoyable and accessible to all.
More information on twimbit is available online at www.twimbit.com. Follow news and updates from Twimbit on Twitter and LinkedIn. Members of the media can find additional information in the Twimbit newsroom.
Vansh Sehgal
va***@*****it.com
by Ferry Bayu | Aug 22, 2023 | Business
Espionage drama ‘Gray’ makes PH premiere on Lionsgate Play
GOLDEN Globe winner Patricia Clarkson takes the audience on a thrilling roller coaster ride through the high-stakes world of spies in Gray, streaming now in the Philippines on Lionsgate Play.
The gripping series delves into a maze of espionage, where passion, deceit, the pursuit of truth, and the delicate fragility of life intersect in a captivating manner.
The captivating series centers around CIA agent Cornelia Gray, portrayed by Oscar nominee, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Patricia Clarkson. After twenty years in hiding due to suspicions of treason, she reenters her former life, only to uncover a new mole within her spy network, endangering her and her allies.
Gray is based on an original concept by David Baldacci (Absolute Power), a renowned author with over 40 national and international bestsellers. Bringing this tale to life are BAFTA nominee writer John J. McLaughlin (Point Pleasant; Black Swan) and award-winning director Ruba Nadda (Manifest; Magnum P.I.).
Lionsgate Play exclusively premieres Gray in the Philippines, marking the series’ first release on the streaming service in any market. Tune in to Lionsgate Play on PLDT Home to catch more exciting premieres.
by Ferry Bayu | Aug 22, 2023 | Business
Whoscall app launched in the Philippines to block spam calls, messages
A Taiwan-based technology firm on Tuesday launched Whoscall—a call identification and spam-blocking app to address the rising mobile scam cases in the Philippines.
“As fraud became more apparent during and after the pandemic, we saw how Filipinos have suffered losses from scams, much like in other countries where we have launched Whoscall such as Thailand, Malaysia and Japan,” said Manwoo Joo, chief operating officer of Gogolook .
“This reality ignited our drive to create a comprehensive life protection platform accessible to every Filipino across the nation,” he said.
Powered by world-leading AI and data-driven technology, Whoscall boasts of the largest database in East Asia and Southeast Asia of over 2.6 billion entries to detect unknown callers, spam and scam calls and texts and potentially harmful URLs.
Whoscall app identifies unknown numbers, blocks spam calls and scans suspicious URLs from messages to provide comprehensive mobile protection. Armed with a range of innovative AI features and an internationally acclaimed reputation, Whoscall arrived in the country to enhance the nation’s mobile security.
Users can regain control and confidence over their phone communications. The app’s anti-fraud features allow users to make informed decisions on whether to answer or ignore calls and messages.
Individuals on the app can report suspicious numbers, empowering them to participate in the broad movement against fraudulent activities.
Gabriel Barrios, country marketing head for the Philippines, said Whoscall has been available as the leading caller ID and scam detection app in Thailand and Taiwan, accumulating 100 million downloads worldwide.
“It has been rolling out in other Asian countries as well, and we’re happy to finally provide this protective service to all Filipinos. We highly encourage everyone to install it on their phones and join the community to protect themselves and their loved ones from potential risks, fraud, and scams. It’s about time we all step up and unite for a Scam-Free Pilipinas,” he said.
Whoscall is available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
You must be logged in to post a comment.