Shawarma Shack

The Shawarma Shack
Product typeShawarma wraps outlet chain
OwnerWalther Uzi Buenavista
Patricia Collantes
CountryPhilippines
Introduced2015; 9 years ago (2015)
Websitehttps://www.shawarmashack.ph/

The Shawarma Shack is a Philippine food franchise known for its "buy one, get one free" shawarma wraps. It started on February 21, 2015, as a nightly ambulant food stand in Divisoria, Manila operated by Walther Uzi Buenavista and Patricia Collantes.[1] As of 2024, it has over 800 outlets and 1000 employees throughout the Philippines.[1][2]

History

In 2015, 25-year old Walther Uzi Buenavista and his wife Patricia launched a food stand at the Tutuban Center night market in Manila selling shawarma wraps.[3] Walther would make the pita bread while Patricia would help prepare the ingredients and recipe. The business was initially unsuccessful as daily sales were very low. The couple then decided to gradually close down the stand. In order to clear out the inventory, Walther offered a "buy one, get one free" promotion for his wraps. This proved successful for the business and for the first time, their average daily sales went up.[1][4]

As the business grew, the couple incorporated the promotion as an integral part of their marketing strategy. One of their first expansions was an open air store in SM City North EDSA which they applied for and subsequently rejected 12 times. Most tenants in the area were short-lived except for the Shawarma Shack outlet which became a top seller, impressing the leasing management.[1]

In October 2016, its first store outside Metro Manila was launched at SM City Dasmariñas in Cavite. Its first store in the Visayas was launched in May 2018 at Elizabeth Mall Cebu while its store in Zamboanga City opened in August 2018 was its first in Mindanao.[5] Currently, the business' products are manufactured from a food facility in Quezon City.[4][6]

The business contracts Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo as their brand endorsers.[7]

Products

The franchise specializes in offering a range of beef and chicken shawarma, available in both spicy and non-spicy variations, served in pita bread. In addition to shawarma, the menu features tikka and kebab wraps, as well as rice meals, catering to a variety of customer preferences.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ong, Henry (2019-11-04). "Success Lessons Every Startup Can Learn from the Founder of The Shawarma Shack". Financial Adviser. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  2. ^ "Shawarma Shack Group cited by Chief PNP Eleazar for charitable works | BMPlus". BusinessMirror. 2021-10-12. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  3. ^ "The origin of Shawarma Shack". My Puhunan. Nov 16, 2019. ABS-CBN.
  4. ^ a b "Walther Uzi Buenavista: Shawarma Shack's millennial CEO". INQUIRER.net. 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  5. ^ "Our Story - Shawarma Shack - The Philippine's First and Original Buy One Take One Shawarma". www.shawarmashack.ph. Retrieved 2022-02-04.
  6. ^ "Growth, digital innovation, employment drive Shawarma Shack forward". Manila Bulletin. October 21, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  7. ^ "Shawarma Shack renews endorsement contract of KathNiel". The Philippine Star. December 22, 2018.