In the food franchising world, it’s easy enough to find burger-and-fries chains and Chinese food restaurants in any urban setting. But even in highly-urbanized locations, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a good barbecue restaurant. And to those of us who know how supply-and-demand works, it leaves the tantalizing question: Is barbecue the next big thing in food franchising?
The Barbecue Vacuum In The Franchising World
Barbecue is without a doubt one of the most basic comfort foods in human history. But it’s still relatively hard-to-find in the food scene today, even in the big cities. That indicates a sort of vacuum in the market.
And when there’s a vacuum in the market, franchisees are eventually bound to notice it and rush in to fill it. And with a high demand and relatively low competition, an influx of new barbecue franchises seems likely for the next few years.
The Great Thing About Barbecue
Everyone loves barbecue — and whoever says they don’t is in denial. There’s simply something primal and satisfying about sinking your teeth into some well-cooked meat. And barbecue is so popular that it can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
And believe it or not, barbecue is actually one of the healthier methods of cooking today. Barbecue is a great source of lean protein. And contrary to popular belief, it’s not fat that makes barbecue soft — it’s actually the slow cooking process that tenderizes the meat.
What This Means For Philippine Food Franchising
If Americans love barbecue, then Filipinos LOVE it. In a typical Filipino party, the food on the table wouldn’t be complete without a barbecued dish. The Philippines simply has a love for barbecued meat that can’t be ignored.
And with the Philippine economy on the rise and income levels rising all over the country, more and more people are watching what they eat. With our love for white rice often leading to health problems like diabetes and hypertension, Filipinos are looking for ways to take in more lean protein.
With barbecue, carb-conscious Filipinos can now take in their serving of lean protein AND comfort food at the same time.
We recently saw the impact of barbecue in the food franchising scene, when burger giant Jollibee acquired Mang Inasal for a whopping Php 3 billion in late 2010. If a humble barbecue restaurant can shake the boots of the country’s biggest restaurant chain, you can bet we’ll be seeing more from barbecue in the food franchising scene in the years to come.
