Cebu brands – InfoCebu

🔶Henry Lhuillier, a French national, came to the Philippines in the 1930s as a jewelry sales executive for Levy and Bloom Oceanic Commercial Department Stores. He eventually started his own by opening Agencia Cebuana in the busy downtown Cebu.

🔶 In 1969, Philippe Jones, the second son of Henry, opened his own pawnshop in Pasay City, and in 1987, Agencia Cebuana rebranded to become Cebuana Lhuillier.

Philippe Jones Lhuillier, the second son of Henry

🔶 Michel Lhuillier, the eldest son of Henry, went on to establish M Lhuillier in the early 80’s together with wife Amparito.

Michel, the eldest son of Henry Lhuillier

🔶Both Cebuana Lhuillier and M. Lhuillier seem to be present in every street corner in the country. In 2000, Cebuana Lhuillier opened its 700th branch and was recognized as the largest chain of pawnshops in the world by Guinness World Records.

🔶Today, Cebuana has more than 2500 branches while M. Lhuillier has more than 2000 and still growing.

🔶 They both have diversified into the money remittance business as well. M.L has Kwarta Padala while Cebuana has Pera Padala.

🔶 Cebuana Lhuillier owns Le Soliel Boracay Resort while M. Lhuillier owns Cebu Safari and Adventure Park and other beach resorts in northern Cebu.

Cebu Safari at Carmen, Cebu

🔶Monique Lhuillier, the world famous fashion designer based in the U.S. is the daughter of Michel.

References:

About Us

https://remit.com.au/m-lhuillier-a-family-business-serving-generations-of-filipinos/

Cebuano creativity is known all over. Kenneth Cobonpue furniture have found their way into the White House, Buckingham Palace and numerous Hollywood movies. Monique Lhuillier’s designs are highly sought after by famous celebrities and royalties all over the world.

Here’s three more Cebu brands that started modestly at home but have gone global since and has shown to have succeeded in doing so. These are neighborhood names we seem to neglect when international brands descend over but remained steadfast and resilient.

So just when all the popular stores are flocking to Cebu, these three Cebuano companies are reversing the trend by opening store after store in different locations worldwide and they are doing it triumphantly.

1. Penshoppe- started out as a clothing company in 1986 and instantly achieved a strong local following especially among the teens, it literally rode an exponential growth wave with 700 stores in just 30 years, 50 of which are scattered all over the world from Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, etc.

2. Bo’s Coffee- When Coffee shops became a local fad in the late 90’s, Cebuano ingenuity immediately took advantage and thus Bo’s Coffee was born and was brewing its way to success ever since. It is expected to breach the 100 outlets mark within the year and with its shop in Qatar doing very good, Dubai and other Middle East cities will soon smell the aroma of Cebuano cappuccino soon.

3. Julie’s Bakeshop– Who would have thought that my childhood favorite, Elorde bread, will one day be sold in Calgary, Canada and people will be lining up to taste it. Yes, Calgary is now officially a prosperous city because they have a Julie’s bakeshop. That’s how local towns gauge prosperity, with the presence of a Julies’ Bakeshop.

There are many others out there, I know. Cebuano’s entrepreneurial spirit cannot be fathomed. In fact, I won’t be surprised if there will be Pungko-Pungko in Times Street or Tisa Siomai and Tuslob-Buwa in London and Paris very soon.

So celebrate if you’re a true Cebuano and share this story for the world to read.