BusinessWorld Online:
A former franchisee of coffee chain Figaro Coffee Co., Inc. has relaunched 10 stores as high-end coffee shops serving alcoholic drinks at night. The concept store, called Le Bistro, opened a flagship branch at the Fraser Place serviced residence in Makati early this month.
In a telephone interview yesterday, Figaro founder Pacita C. Juan, who serves as consultant to Le Bistro, said the 10 stores are operated by former Figaro franchisee Lot Tan. “[Le Bistro’s outlets are] the same place [as the old Figaro stores]… So what [Ms. Tan] did [was to change] the concept to make it more upscale and modern,” she said.
Ms. Tan said in a statement the decision to serve alcoholic drinks was due to the economic downturn, as people now prefer “relaxing drinks.”
“We offer cocktails at dusk to the same people who come for coffee in the morning,” she said.
Ms. Juan noted that Seattle-based coffee chain Starbucks recently added alcoholic drinks to the menu of one of its branches, but said Le Bistro was the first to come up with the concept.