Shakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc. (SPAVI) is a prominent fast casual restaurant chain and food service group in the Philippines. Established in 1974, SPAVI operates, maintains, and franchises various brands, including Shakey’s, Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar (Peri), R&B Tea (R&B), Project Pie, and Potato Corner. SPAVI’s mission focuses on sustainably growing its business by investing in its brands, stores, and people.
Brand Expansion and Growth
SPAVI’s growth strategy includes enhancing brand equity for Shakey’s, listing publicly on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE:PIZZA) in 2016, acquiring Peri in 2019, and securing the Philippine master franchise for R&B in 2020. The company also relaunched Project Pie in 2021 and acquired Potato Corner, taking over its operations in March 2022. Despite these challenges, SPAVI has consistently evolved and adapted to meet the needs of its customers.
WOW Culture: Guest-Centric and Sustainable Business Practices
SPAVI’s success is deeply rooted in its WOW culture, which centers on delivering extraordinary experiences for its customers. This culture permeates every level of the organization, from employees to stakeholders, and is coupled with a commitment to long-term sustainability. The company adheres to good corporate governance practices, fosters strong relationships with stakeholders, and operates responsibly toward the environment and society.
Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Innovation
SPAVI has faced challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the supply chain disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war. Despite these obstacles, the company has demonstrated resilience by adapting and innovating. SPAVI continuously strives for excellence through multiple rounds of restructuring, rebranding, and incorporating new technologies such as digitization to enhance operations.
Adapting to Changing Consumer Demands
The company’s commitment to adapting to shifting consumer habits is reflected in its strategic response to increased competition, particularly in the delivery space. SPAVI has partnered with food aggregators to boost its online presence and has invested in enhancing its off-premise delivery business. Additionally, the launch of the Shakey’s Superapp has allowed the company to extend the Shakey’s experience digitally.
Empowering Employees and Fostering Growth
Internally, SPAVI focuses on creating a positive and supportive environment for its employees. The company provides superior leave credits, healthcare provisions, and fosters a culture that emphasizes work-life balance. During the pandemic, SPAVI implemented a program that ensures store staff live within 30 minutes of their workplace, with an 88% completion rate. The company also invests in training programs to improve product and service quality and instill its WOW culture across the workforce.
Commitment to Sustainability and Community Impact
SPAVI is committed to sustainability and engages in several initiatives aimed at making a positive social impact. These include providing job opportunities and raising awareness with the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, collaborating with Friends of Hope to build classrooms through the sales of Hope in a Bottle drinking water, and distributing 72,055 meals in partnership with World Central Kitchen after Typhoon Odette.
Recognition and Aspiration for Sustainability
Recognized as one of Asia’s Best Performing Companies by ACES, SPAVI views this honor as a testament to its responsible business practices and the affection of its customers. The company aims to become a model of sustainable business operations, encouraging peers to follow a similar path that benefits businesses, the planet, and society.
Shanggari Balakrishnan, CEO of MORS Group, praised SPAVI for its dedication to operating with care, emphasizing that the company’s remarkable growth and continued success make it a standout in the industry and a forerunner that others should watch closely.
