I-Foods Card (IFC)

Passport to ‘global gastronomy’
By Earl D.C. Bracamonte


I-Foods Inc., the umbrella entity carrying such labels as Peri-Peri, Tokyo Café, Stackers, and Kogi Bulgogi, is continuously giving Filipinos some of the world’s best cuisines. For more than a decade now, the company has been taking both gourmets and gourmands on a gastronomic journey. Its portfolio of restaurants offers diners a taste of world cooking at reasonable price points.
I-Foods Inc.’s latest concept restaurant is Parmigiano Ristorante Pizzeria, a full-fledged Italian food-stop that offers pasta and, most especially, the best-selling Napoletana Pizza. Cooked in just 90 seconds, it is touted as the ‘quickest pizza service’ in the country. Opened in 2010 at Resorts World Manila, the restaurant is fast becoming a must-try for foodies in the metro.
“Investing in the food business has remained reasonable, vis-à-vis operating expenditures and overhead costs. The money required to put one up has not risen much as compared to realty and other sectors. This is reasonable capitalization,” shared company president Bryan C. Tiu.
Enjoying these world-class dining becomes even more exciting with the launch of the I-Foods Card (IFC); every diner’s guarantee to a great dining experience coupled with big savings. Whether you have a craving for Tokyo Café’s hot or iced coffee-based beverages, Stackers premium burgers, Peri-Peri’s spit-fire grilled chicken, Kogi’s beef bulgogi and bibimbap, or Parmigiano Ristorante Pizzeria’s Napoletana pizza, you will surely enjoy these treats at a bargain using the IFC.
“I-Foods is into the variety game. Families go out on a salo-salo every now and then. And in the casual dining segment, people go out in groups. The food industry outlook is rosy. Competition is rife and this is beneficial to us, now and in the long run,” he added.
With an IFC, you get a 15 per cent discount on all purchases at any I-Foods restaurant in Metro Manila for the duration of the card validity. The discount will be applied to your total bill no matter how much the total-spend is. And with a card validity of two years, using it frequently is worth a lot in pesos.
Unlike other cards, the IFC also earns rebates on all food purchases. For every P200 spent, diners get a P1 rebate, which may be used to pay for purchases over future visits to any of its restaurants. To sweeten the deal further, the IFC also gives every cardholder a one-time 25 per cent discount on his birthday month that he can redeem at any I-Foods restaurant.
“The IFC recall must be equated with all the brands, as all are proudly sustainable.”
I-Foods Inc. started in 2001 when the company opened the first Teriyaki Boy outlet in Greenhills. The restaurant gained popularity by word of mouth that, by the end of 2005, the brand already had ten branches all over Metro Manila. The concept was much in demand that the Pancake House Group inked a partnership deal with I-Foods which had, by now, made the Japanese fast-food place one of the most popular in the country.
From Teriyaki Boy, the company has, since then, expanded and diversified to other restaurant concepts. “I-Foods is into culinary adventure. Most of our brands are in, or over, their fifth year of operations. The IFC consolidates all our food outlets under the I-Foods umbrella. Although each of the brands can stand on their own, this move is geared towards expansion and re-imaging; just like what Larry Cruz did to his chain of restaurants. I believe in the Filipino talent though very much under-utilized.
“Chefs must know the roots of a particular cuisine they’re preparing so they’d know if the complaints hurled against them are valid and not merely whimsical. Sometimes, clients have no idea on certain dishes they’re complaining about,” continued Brian.
In just a little over a decade, I-Foods Inc. has become the leading purveyor of fast casual dining concepts in the country. The company assures Filipinos that they get to taste the best in the world in settings that rival those of high-priced exclusive restaurants.Although all brands under the I-Foods banner are homegrown, it gives every diner’s palate a tasting of cuisines from all across the globe. “In toto, I-Foods has four major brands and two start-up labels including Miso-Ten, our new noodle house. At present, we have 21 food stores and we’re planning on opening more outlets. We are hopeful to reach the 50-million revenue mark at the close of 2013,” Bryan said in closing.
For updates and exciting promotions, simply check out the following Facebook pages: tokyocafephilippines; stackersburgercafeph; peripericharcoalchicken; kogibulgogi; and parmigianopizzeriaristorante.

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