Here’s the deal with great business ideas: they rarely announce themselves with fireworks. Most of the time, they’re quiet—a small nudge, a whisper. Potato Corner started with one of those whispers back in 1992 in the Philippines. A group of friends in the Philippines: Jose Magsaysay Jr., Ricky Magsaysay, Jorge Magsaysay, and Francisco Lapid had a simple thought: What if fries could be more than just fries?
They weren’t looking to reinvent the wheel—or the potato, in this case. Just enhance it. A sprinkle of cheese, a dash of sour cream, a hint of barbecue. Simple tweaks, but the kind that make kids grin and adults momentarily abandon their diets. Small changes, big impact. Classic 80/20 thinking applied to fries.
The First Kiosk: Small, but Mighty
The first Potato Corner kiosk popped up in SM Megamall, Manila. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t fancy. But boy, did it have lines. People couldn’t get enough of those bold, flavored fries. Why? Because it was different. Fries weren’t just a sidekick anymore—they were the star.
Sharing the Secret Sauce
By 1993, the founders realized something important: This idea? It’s too good to keep to ourselves. So, they opened it up. They let others join in by franchising. And here’s the genius of that move: when you give other people a stake in your idea, they work just as hard to make it shine.
The franchisees turned Potato Corner into a network, a family. From one kiosk, it grew into a familiar sight across the Philippines. And every new corner was proof that a small idea can get pretty big when shared.
From Manila to the World
You know what’s unbelievable about flavored fries? They speak a universal language. In 2003, Potato Corner opened its first international store in Indonesia. Soon, it was in the United States, Thailand, the Middle East, and beyond. Today, it’s in over 12 countries. The whisper had turned into a roar.
Why It Works
Here’s why Potato Corner isn’t just another snack brand: it delivers joy. Not the fleeting kind, but the type that sticks. The fries are freshly cooked, generously seasoned, and totally unapologetic. People love them because they feel like a treat—and we all need a little treat now and then.
Oh, and it’s not just about the fries. It’s the simplicity. The accessibility. The fact that you can walk up to a kiosk with a few coins and walk away with something that makes your day better.
Evolving, Not Changing
Potato Corner doesn’t rest. It’s always playing with new flavors, experimenting with store formats, and finding ways to surprise its fans. But here’s the trick: it never loses sight of what made it special. It stays true to the core idea: fries, done differently, done well.
A Lesson in Growth
Potato Corner isn’t just about serving up fries; it’s a tale of nurturing a small idea and giving it the chance to flourish. It’s all about spreading the word and letting others take it to the next level.
And let’s not forget, even the simplest concepts—like adding some seasoning to fries—can create a huge difference when you put your heart into it.
So, what’s your version of Potato Corner? What little idea have you been holding onto that could end up being something amazing? This story shows that small ideas can really take off in unexpected ways.
