From Café to Factory Floor

Figaro Culinary Group is quietly reshaping its future—not just as a collection of beloved dining brands, but as a growing food manufacturing powerhouse. With the continued development of its wholly owned subsidiary, Figaro Innovation and Development Inc. (FIDI), the publicly listed food and beverage group is taking a decisive step toward long-term scale, efficiency, and global readiness.

While Figaro is best known to consumers for its cafés and restaurant concepts, FIDI represents a behind-the-scenes evolution. Established as the Group’s dedicated innovation and manufacturing arm, FIDI allows Figaro Culinary Group to move beyond a purely retail-led model and into structured food production that can support both domestic demand and future export ambitions.

This direction was recently reinforced through the ceremonial signing of a Supplemental Agreement between FIDI and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) in Pasay City. The agreement reaffirmed FIDI’s status as a PEZA-registered export enterprise, enabling it to continue operations at the Laguna Technopark – Special Economic Zone. Under this registration, FIDI is authorized to manufacture coffee mixes such as Anghel Kape, along with other food products being developed under the Figaro Culinary Group portfolio.

More than a regulatory milestone, the agreement highlights how manufacturing has become a central pillar of the Group’s growth strategy. By consolidating product development, toll manufacturing, and quality control within FIDI, Figaro Culinary Group is building the infrastructure needed to create new food formats, improve production efficiency, and align with international quality and safety standards.

FIDI’s PEZA registration builds on its existing Certificate of Registration as an export enterprise, formally recognizing its role in the toll manufacturing of coffee and food products. The setup positions the company to respond more quickly to market opportunities—whether supplying its own brands, developing new concepts, or preparing select products for overseas markets.

The signing was attended by key leaders, including Brian Gregory Liu, Chairman of FIDI; PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga; PEZA Deputy Director General Joy Anidelle Alguso; and FIDI Chief Financial Officer Jose Petronio Español. Español noted that the agreement supports the Group’s broader vision of strengthening its food platforms beyond retail and preparing its brands for sustained growth.

For PEZA, FIDI represents the type of enterprise that drives innovation and inclusive development within economic zones. For Figaro Culinary Group, it marks a shift from café counters to factory floors—laying the groundwork for a more resilient, scalable, and globally competitive food business.