Potato Corner (PC), the undisputed leader in kiosk-based flavored fries in the Philippines, announced the opening of its first ever store in London, United Kingdom. With its arrival in the British Isles, the homegrown Filipino brand established its global presence in five continents – Asia, North America, South America, Australia, and now, Europe.
The new store is located at the Medz Corner Food Court along Kensington High Street, a major shopping district in London.
In a statement, Filipino businessman Wilfredo Ventura, the franchisee of the London store, said, “We are deeply honored and privileged to launch this proudly Filipino brand to the UK and bring joy to our ‘kababayans’ who have been missing and craving for Potato Corner’s flavored fries. The brand and its line of products have a global appeal. It can cater to UK locals who love potatoes, and what better way to enjoy potatoes than adding a variety of flavors. Our goal is to go global with our Potato Corner business.”
PC’s entry in Europe is part and parcel of its strategy to accelerate global expansion. The brand recently opened another new territory, setting foot in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), for the first time. The PC store was franchised by well-respected Dubai-based Filipino businessman and restaurateur, Rolly Brucales. This year, the brand has opened 39 new international stores in Thailand, Singapore, China, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates among others. The flavored fries giant likewise marked the opening of its 1,400th store in the world. To date, PC has a footprint of 1,195 stores in the Philippines and 205 stores internationally.
The brand was first established in 1992 as a small food cart. Through a pioneering franchising model, Potato Corner became one of the largest kiosk-based chains in the country, recognized as a top franchisor by the Philippine Franchising Association (PFA).
In 2022, the Potato Corner brand was acquired by Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc. (PSE:PIZZA), one of the leading casual dining restaurant chains and food service groups in the Philippines.
Vicente Gregorio, PIZZA President and Chief Executive officer, said, “We’re very pleased with the growth momentum of Potato Corner, and we look forward to further increasing its footprint. Alongside revenues and returns, accelerating Potato Corner’s expansion means more franchisees and their families benefiting from the business, more job opportunities in the communities where we will operate, and more guests finding joy in a Giga cup of their favorite flavored fries.”