Banok is the brainchild of business partners Alex Montanes and Manuel “Bong” Villanueva. It now ranks among Davao’s home-grown restaurants that has become byword not just among the dwellers of this bustling city south of the Philippines; but among local and foreign tourists as well, whose travel to Mindanao is not complete without dropping by Banoks to savor its specialties. Banoks menu, which is predominantly “sinugba” (barbecued grilled meat or seafoods), “tinola” or “tinowa” (soup), and “kinilaw” (raw fish salad), area always a feast to the eyes and delight for the taste buds. Their SuTuKil (a combination platter of sugbang panga, tinola and kilaw with unlimited rice) is a crowd-drawer.

It used to be that starting a business entailed months of market studies and a lot of risks. What if consumers do not welcome the product or the service you are offering? It also used to be that well-established businesses were limited by resources in their desire to put up more stores and branches. But thanks to franchising, businesses may start (for those buying a franchise) and expand (for those giving out the franchise) in a shorter period of time.

Julie’s Bakeshop

t all started out as a family business in Cebu way back in 1981. Dr. Rico Gandionco, Chairman of the Board of Julie’s Franchise Corporation (JFC), recalled that his mother was a canteen concessionaire in one of the largest rattan firms in Cebu. She observed that workers preferred breads to other snack items. “With the bulk of bread she was buying, she decided to rent a space and started a small bakeshop in Mandaue.” After six months, she opened another branch in Urgello, also in the city and eventually ventured outside Cebu to other cities in the Visayas.

Tony Tan Caktiong

Food and family are two essential elements behind the success of both Tony Tan Caktiong and his company, Jollibee Foods Inc.

While growing up in Davao (Southern Mindanao), he and his brothers worked in their family restaurant where their father was also the chef. From his parents, they learned two basic ingredients that led to the Jollibee phenomenon -- good food and humility.

Company Overview

Jollibee Foods Corporation is engaged in the development, operation and franchising of fast food stores under the trade name Jollibee. At December 31, 2006, the Company had a total of 566 stores, of which 308 are franchised and 258 were company-owned. The stores offer food products that are prepared on on-site based on original company recipes using company-specified ingredients and supplies. These food products are sold undermarks, such as Champ, Chicken Joy and Zert Pies, among others. The Company operates its central commissary in Calamba, Laguna through a wholly owned subsidiary, Zenith Foods Corporation. This commissary serves stores located in Luzon and Visayas and Mindanao. It operates another commissary in Mandaue City through wholly owned subsidiary, Vismin Foods Corporation, to service the Visayas and Mindanao areas. On September 29, 2006, the Company acquired 50% interest of its joint venture partner, Delifrance Asia Ltd., in Baker Fresh Philippines, Inc.