Blugre eyeing P50-M revenue

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

BLUGRE Coffee is eyeing to earn P30 million to P50 million in revenue this year through its expansion of more than 20 branches, including franchisees here and abroad.

Benjamin Cuaresma, president and chief executive officer of Blugre Coffee, said that currently they have three company-owned establishments in the city and another two in General Santos City.

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Acquiring three more branches and 17 franchisees, however, are still underway.

Cuaresma pointed out that in line with their desire to have Philippine coffee known worldwide, they will open one more branches in Singapore by September this year.

He also revealed that they are planning to open a franchise in Philadelphia next year.

"There was one who wanted to buy a franchise and bring the coffee shop in Philadelphia, especially when he tasted our durian flavored coffee. He said he cannot forget it since then," Cuaresma said.

He also pointed out they have arranged deals with the B'laan Tribes in Mt. Matutum, South Cotabato to meet the consumption requirement of their stores in terms of arabica coffee and to also support the tribe.

Cuaresma said that this time they want to venture on the world's most expensive coffee, the civet coffee produced from waste of alamid cats.

"There are 2,000 wild cats in Mt. Matutum that produce civet coffee," Cuaresma said.

According to him, the good thing about this coffee is that it's all organic and the location of the coffee plants is just within the forest.

Cuaresma said these wild cats producing civet coffee are not in captivity because they want them to pick the best of coffee beans in the wild.

"Alamids are known for their choosing skills," Joanne Siy said, adding that wild cats cannot anymore single out good coffee beans if they are held captive.

Right now, the company's source of coffee is Saranggani.