Potato Corner opens first Winnipeg franchise

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/11/2021 (557 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Have you ever heard of a restaurant/fast food outlet called Potato Corner?

Chances are you have not but, if you immigrated from the Philippines in the last 20 years, there is a good chance that you are familiar with Potato Corner, which is renowned for its flavoured French fries. 

Back on Nov. 14, I participated in a ribbon-cutting at the grand opening of the first Potato Corner franchise in Manitoba, located in St. Vital Centre.

I was grateful for the invitation and congratulate the franchisees on the launch. Whenever small businesses open in the city, I consider it special because they form the backbone of the Canadian economy. They are what generate jobs.

Canada’s ethnic diversity is one of its greatest strengths and Potato Corner is an example of how our diversity creates jobs and provides more choices to all of us. Potato Corner is one of the most successful food franchises in the Philippines and has come a long way from opening its first food cart in October 1992. Today, it has store in many countries worldwide — in malls, schools, hospitals, bus stations, amusement parks, and even tourist destinations.

Canada is now home to over a million people of Filipino heritage, making it one of the fastest-growing communities in the country. This fact helped lure this franchise to Manitoba, but I know people from all communities will benefit, whether directly or indirectly.

I believe that the franchisees, Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Rodriguez, have caught on to a fantastic idea and, if I was to speculate, I would say by this time next year there will more franchises in Winnipeg (one is coming soon to Garden City Shopping Centre, for example) and more in different parts of Canada.

The last time I was in Manila, Philippines, I stopped at a Tim Hortons franchise outside the massive Mall of Asia. I look forward to seeing the relationship between Canada and Philippines to continue growing and to help both nations prosper.

The grand opening was attended by special guests including Orontes Castro (Philippines consul general to Canada, based in Toronto); Ronaldo Opina (Philippines honorary consul to Manitoba); Jon Reyes, Manitoba minister of economic development and jobs.

I would like to thank the Rodriguez family for inviting me and I wish them well in the years ahead.