Fruitas Holdings Inc., the country’s leading operator of small-footprint food and beverage stores, is now targeting to have 200 stores by next year after achieving its goal of opening 100 stores in 2021 ahead of schedule.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, the firm said it is opening its 100th community store under the brand Balai Pandesal in Parañaque City. FRUIT has also expanded its recent acquisition, Balai Pandesal, from 5 to 33 outlets since June 2021.

The company intends to further expand its store network and reach a total of 200 community stores in 2022. This continuing strategic initiative of the Company is aligned with its thrust to provide healthy and fresh products to its customers daily.

“Community stores allow us to have more flexibility in our operations especially with the constant changes in quarantine guidelines,” said Fruitas Holdings President and CEO Lester Yu.

He explained, “We are more accessible to customers residing or working nearby and the larger format stores also act as hubs for our delivery services.” The recent reclassification of quarantine restrictions in NCR has allowed the Company to reopen more stores bringing total active stores to about 90 percent of its network as of October 22, 2021.

FRUIT said it is well-positioned to reopen more stores with the continuous easing of quarantine restrictions and general improvements in the pandemic situation in the country.

In line with the reopening of more stores, FRUIT continues to encourage its employees to receive COVID-19 vaccines and as of date, is close to vaccinating 100 percent of its workforce.

With over a thousand employees nationwide, FRUIT has vaccinated over 90 percent of its store personnel while 100 percent of commissary and head office personnel have received their COVID-19 vaccines. FRUIT is poised to vaccinate 100 percent of its workforce before the end of 2021.

“As advocates of health and wellness, it is essential for us to provide a safe environment to all our stakeholders while enjoying our healthy and fresh products. We must ensure that all our stakeholders are safeguarded against COVID-19 and any adverse effects it may cause, as well as keeping everyone in their household safe from the virus,” Yu added.