View source for Potato Corner

{{Short description|Philippine fast food franchise}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox brand
| name           = Potato Corner
| logo           = Potato Corner Logo 2023.png
| logo_upright   =
| logo_alt       =
| logo_caption   = Current logo since 2023
| image          =
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| caption        =
| producttype    = [[French fries]] outlet chain
| currentowner   = Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. (SPAVI)
| producedby     =
| country        = [[Philippines]]
| introduced     = {{Start date and age|1992}}<ref name="Inquirer-Globalizing">{{cite news |last1=Dumlao-Abadilla |first1=Doris |title=Globalizing corporate Philippines |url=https://business.inquirer.net/261558/globalizing-corporate-philippines |accessdate=29 September 2019 |work=business.inquirer.net |publisher=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=3 December 2018 |language=en |archivedate=31 August 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831175757/https://business.inquirer.net/261558/globalizing-corporate-philippines |url-status=live }}</ref>
| discontinued   =
| related        =
| markets        = Southeast Asia, Middle East, East Asia, Oceania, North America, Europe
| previousowners =
| trademarkregistrations =
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| module         = <!-- or: misc -->
| module1        = <!-- or: misc1 -->
}}
'''Potato Corner''' is a Philippine food franchise known for its flavored [[French fries]]. Potato Corner's first stall opened up in [[SM Megamall]] in [[Mandaluyong]], [[Philippines]], on October 16, 1992 under Cinco Corporation.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.entrepreneur.com.ph/news-and-events/potato-corner-targets-5-000-branches-in-next-5-years-a00178-20171015-lfrm|title=Potato Corner Seeks Franchisees As it Ramps Up Branches to 5,000 in Next 5 Years|work=Entrepreneur.com.ph|access-date=2018-08-29|archivedate=4 September 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904053055/https://www.entrepreneur.com.ph/news-and-events/potato-corner-targets-5-000-branches-in-next-5-years-a00178-20171015-lfrm|url-status=live}}</ref>
== History ==
[[File:Potato Corner at the Ayala Malls Central Bloc (2024-06-01).jpg|thumb|left|A Potato Corner outlet at [[Ayala Malls Central Bloc]], [[Cebu City]]]]
Potato Corner was founded by Jose Magsaysay Jr., Ricky Montelibano, Danny Bermejo and George Wieneke in 1992. Montelibano is Magsaysay's brother-in-law and was the first to introduce flavored popcorn to the [[Philippines]]. Although he had been working for a local [[Wendy's]] for nine years, Magsaysay needed to support his family and came up with the idea of flavored fries, based on Montelibano's business. They had to borrow money to raise the starting [[financial capital]] of {{Philippine peso|150,000|link=yes}} ([[United States dollars|US$]] {{To USD|150000|Philippines|year=1992}}, equivalent to {{Philippine peso|{{Inflation|PH|150,000|2021}}}} in 2021). Magsaysay left his management job at [[Wendy's]] and the first Potato Corner, a cart in [[Mandaluyong]], opened in October 1992. Within thirty days, all of them were able to pay back their loans.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Gamboa |first=Rey |date=December 10, 2016 |title=A very interesting entrepreneurial start |url=https://www.philstar.com/business/2016/12/10/1651875/very-interesting-entrepreneurial-start |access-date=December 13, 2022 |website=[[The Philippine Star]] |archivedate=13 December 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213121223/https://www.philstar.com/business/2016/12/10/1651875/very-interesting-entrepreneurial-start |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Featherston |first=Ellie |date=July 25, 2019 |title=We’re fast. We’re always ready: Jose Magsaysay |url=https://www.theceomagazine.com/executive-interviews/food-beverage/jose-magsaysay/ |access-date=December 13, 2022 |website=The CEO Magazine |archivedate=13 December 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213121223/https://www.theceomagazine.com/executive-interviews/food-beverage/jose-magsaysay/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:POTATO-CORNER LOGO VECTOR 2019 REGISTERED-1-300x94.png|thumb|250px|right|Former logo used until 2023, but still used in their packaging.]]
After their initial success, they began to consider expanding through franchises. Magsaysay knew only the basics of franchising from his job at Wendy's and at the time it was a novel idea in the Philippines. As such, their first franchisee agreements were largely informal and their first franchisee signed a document they copied from online. The group raised funds for their expansion and quickly became large in the local market.<ref name=":02" />
[[File:Potato Corner at Xibeiwang MIXC One B1 (20240604134141).jpg|thumb|A Potato Corner outlet at Xibeiwang MIXC, [[Beijing]], [[China]]]]
In 2006, Potato Corner opened its first international store in Indonesia.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://primer.com.ph/blog/2017/04/17/phs-leading-french-fries-business-opens-its-first-store-in-hong-kong/|title=PH’s leading french fries business Potato Corner opens first store in HK|website=Primer Media Inc.|access-date=2018-08-30|archivedate=4 September 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904052822/http://primer.com.ph/blog/2017/04/17/phs-leading-french-fries-business-opens-its-first-store-in-hong-kong/|url-status=live}}</ref> This was followed by Potato Corner's first entry in the United States in February 2010 and first store in the United States in 2012.<ref name=":4" /> In April 2017, Potato Corner opened its first Hong Kong franchise in [[Tsim Sha Tsui]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 13, 2017 |title=Potato Corner's first Hong Kong store is an early hit |url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/13/17/potato-corners-first-hong-kong-store-is-an-early-hit |access-date=December 15, 2022 |website=[[ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs|ABS-CBN News]] |archivedate=15 December 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215064352/https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/13/17/potato-corners-first-hong-kong-store-is-an-early-hit |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2021, Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures Inc., the Philippine franchise of [[Shakey's Pizza]], acquired Potato Corner;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rappler.com/business/shakeys-buys-potato-corner/|title=Shakey’s buys Potato Corner|first=Ralf|last=Rivas|date=December 24, 2021|accessdate=April 21, 2024|work=Rappler|archivedate=21 April 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421122148/https://www.rappler.com/business/shakeys-buys-potato-corner/|url-status=live}}</ref> the acquisition deal was completed in 2022.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://malaya.com.ph/news_business/shakeys-buys-potato-corner-singapore/|title=Shakey’s buys Potato Corner Singapore|publisher=Malaya Business Insight|date=March 9, 2022|accessdate=April 21, 2021|archivedate=21 April 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421122149/https://malaya.com.ph/news_business/shakeys-buys-potato-corner-singapore/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.shakeyspizza.ph/investor-documents/press-releases/20221219%20Potato%20Corner%20celebrates%2030%20years%20of%20entrepreneurship%20-%20filing.pdf|title=PRESS RELEASE – POTATO CORNER CELEBRATES 30 FLAVORFUL YEARS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP|website=Shakey's Pizza|date=December 19, 2022|accessdate=April 21, 2024|archivedate=14 May 2024|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514233713/https://www.shakeyspizza.ph/investor-documents/press-releases/20221219%20Potato%20Corner%20celebrates%2030%20years%20of%20entrepreneurship%20-%20filing.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2024, Potato Corner has more than 1,100 stores in the Philippines, with international operations in Indonesia, the United States, Panama, Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Singapore, Vietnam, Kuwait, Malaysia, Canada, Myanmar, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, China, and the United Arab Emirates. In late 2022, the franchise expanded to the [[United Kingdom]] opening the first outlet in London. The franchise also expanded to New Zealand opening its first outlet in Auckland and in the United Arab Emirates opening their first outlet store in [[Ibn Battuta Mall]].<ref name=":4" />
== Awards and recognition ==
Potato Corner garnered a number of accolades through the years. Potato Corner bagged the Best Franchisee of the Year for three consecutive years from PFA and DTI. Awarded by the same organizations, Potato Corner also received the Franchisee Excellence Hall of Fame Award in 2003 and the Global Filipino Franchise Award in 2017.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=http://business.inquirer.net/249216/new-life-new-vision|title=New life, new vision|last=Arceo-Dumlao|first=Tina|access-date=2018-08-30|archivedate=4 September 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904052725/http://business.inquirer.net/249216/new-life-new-vision|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Marketing and advertising ==
=== Mascot ===
Potato Corner's official mascot, Poco (formerly Spudster), was introduced by the brand in 2009, and can be seen in all of its stores and buckets. Spudster received a Master License for [[Los Angeles County]] in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.potatocorner.com/pages/our-history|title=Our History|website=Potato Corner|access-date=2018-08-30}}</ref>
== Criticisms and controversies ==
In August 2023, Potato Corner Philippines received online backlash when a job posting for a branch in [[Dasmariñas]], [[Cavite]] deemed to be discriminatory went viral on social media, garnering criticism and calls to boycott their products. The company deleted the post and apologized for it.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Potato Corner addresses flak over insensitive job posting that went viral |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/hashtag/content/879559/potato-corner-addresses-flak-over-insensitive-job-posting-that-went-viral/story/ |access-date=22 August 2023 |archivedate=22 August 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822230858/https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/hashtag/content/879559/potato-corner-addresses-flak-over-insensitive-job-posting-that-went-viral/story/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Potato Corner apologizes for viral ‘discriminatory’ job posting |url=https://www.rappler.com/business/potato-corner-apology-viral-job-post-august-2023/ |access-date=22 August 2023 |archivedate=22 August 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822231200/https://www.rappler.com/business/potato-corner-apology-viral-job-post-august-2023/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Malasig |first=Jeline |date=2023-08-22 |title='Taking this seriously': Potato Corner says it values 'diversity' amid flak over job posting |url=https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2023/08/22/258798/potato-corner-diversity-job-posting-flak/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=Interaksyon |language=en-US |archivedate=22 August 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822231159/https://interaksyon.philstar.com/trends-spotlights/2023/08/22/258798/potato-corner-diversity-job-posting-flak/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://potatocorner.com/ Official website]
[[Category:1992 establishments in the Philippines]]
[[Category:French fries]]
[[Category:Food and drink companies of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Multinational companies headquartered in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Restaurants established in 1992]]