- Congo Grille
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Congo Grille 
Type Public Industry Restaurants Founded Quezon City, Philippines (1999) Headquarters Pasig City, Philippines Number of locations 10 Key people Kenneth Sytin (founder) Products Philippine cuisine
Grilled foodWebsite www.congogrille.com/home.html Congo Grille is a chain of family restaurants in the Philippines named for its African jungle-themed interiors.[1] In contrast to the decor, the cuisine is predominantly Filipino with a smidgen of Western and Chinese foods. The award-winning restaurant is also popularly known as The Sisig King for its recent achievements in a food feast celebrating the favorite Filipino dish.[2] The chain has future plans to build stores overseas, especially in the United States.[3]
Contents
History
Congo Grille at SM City Clark in Angeles City.
Congo Grille was established in 1999 by Kenneth Sytin and his brothers. That year, the business had as many as 13,000 customers a month and was dubbed "the fastest growing grill in town."[4] In 2006, Congo Grill participated in the Annual Sisig Festival held in Angeles City, Pampanga. Their pork sisig and two other sisig dishes won first prizes in the major categories.[5][6]
The restaurant operates based on three concepts; a Philippine restaurant in an air conditioned environment, food without monosodium glutamate, and a mascot (an ape in a safari outfit) for entertaining youngsters.[1] Congo Grille was opened for franchising in 2008.[7]
The first franchised-operated store opened at the Araneta Center in 2009.[2]
Charities
A common meal of sisig, rice and iced teaIn 2007, Congo Grille, along with other companies, organized a party to feed 407 children of low-income families in the city of Valenzuela. This was part of a program dealing with nationwide hunger.[8][dead link]
Two years later, they teamed up with local television network GMA 7 in feeding low-income individuals. Workers of the restaurant chain offered meals to 300 people in Quezon City, its birthplace. Toys and other collectibles were also donated.[9]
References
- ^ a b "Go ‘ape’ over Congo Grille". Manila Standard Today. August 16, 2006. http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife01_aug16_2006. Retrieved 2008-11-20.
- ^ a b "Sisig King franchise store opens in Cubao". Malaya - The National Newspaper. August 28, 2009. http://www.malaya.com.ph/aug28/livi4.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- ^ Antonetta Valdez-Pua (September 8, 2006). "Secrets To Premium Grilled Food". Manila Bulletin Online. http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2006/09/08/TSTE2006090873689.html. Retrieved 2008-12-28.[dead link]
- ^ "Congo Grille creates perfect recipe for franchise success". The Daily Tribune. June 27, 2008. http://www.tribune.net.ph/etc/20080727etc6.html. Retrieved 2008-12-20.[dead link]
- ^ Reynaldo G. Navales (December 9, 2006). "Kapampangans show cooking skills at Sisig festival". Sun.Star Pampanga. http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/pam/2006/12/09/feat/kapampangans.show.cooking.skills.at.sisig.festival..html. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ^ dbmedia (2007-08-23). "Congo Grille Opens at Trimona". DBMedia. Retrieved on 2010-12-26.
- ^ "‘Sisig’ king opens business opportunities at Franchise Expo". The Manila Times Internet Edition. August 31, 2008. http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2008/aug/31/yehey/career/20080831car3.html. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
- ^ "Nourishing the young through spoonfuls of joy". The Manila Times Internet Edition. November 4, 2007. http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/nov/04/yehey/weekend/20071104week2.html. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
- ^ "Congo Grille cooks for a cause". Malaya-The National Newspaper. February 9, 2009. http://www.malaya.com.ph/feb09/livi5.htm. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
External links
Categories:- Companies established in 1999
- Restaurant chains in the Philippines
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