An entrepreneurial couple looked at Hawaiian dishes as an inspiration for a new restaurant brand that grew into four stores within 12 months and is set to add more outlets next year through franchising.
“We are the first Poke specialty store in the Philippines,” says Speedy Lyttle, who together with wife Alta established Poke Poke a year ago.
Speedy and Alta opened the first Poke Poke branches at Estancia Mall in Pasig City and SM Aura in Taguig City in December 2016. They added two more outlets this year—one in Greenhills, San Juan and another at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.
Poke is a raw fish salad served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine. It has become a food trend around the world catering to health-conscious individuals.
“We really want to introduce to the Philippine market Poke and healthy fastfood,” says Speedy, whose grandfather is an Irish American. Speedy’s father was born in the Philippines.
“Poke is a staple in Hawaii. We thought of bringing it here and introduce in the Philippine market,” says Alta.
In the Philippines, Speedy and Alta together with chef Kel Zaguirre introduced Poke bowls, a fusion of Poke dish and Asian cuisines. Poke bowls consist of marinated cuts of fresh seafood, vegetables and rice. “It is mostly fresh. It consists mostly of vegetables, fish and rice. Actually, a bowl is a complete meal already,” says Speedy.
“It’s kind of East meets West. Poke is basically raw. But in Poke Poke, we have the option to cook it or sear it. We anticipated that not very many Filipinos want to eat raw yet. But we discovered that millennials are now a wider, bigger market of people who eat raw. Many people are now trying it,” says Speedy.
Alta says despite being healthy, a Poke bowl with fresh ingredients is appetizing and not bland. Poke bowl, she says, is reinvigorating, and does not make diners feel lethargic and sleepy as other fastfood do. “It is delicious and satisfying, and it won’t make you feel as guilty,” she says.
“It is perfect for people on the go, especially those who work during the day. They want to move after lunch, and not feel sleepy after,” says Speedy, adding that food laden with monosodium glutamate tends to make diners feel sluggish.
Speedy assures that no MSG and other synthetic flavorings are used in food served at Poke Poke and Locavore, the couple’s Filipino restaurant brand. “Even with our Locavore, we don’t use MSG in Filipino food. Almost 80 percent of our food at Locavore is organic, but they still taste great.”
Aside from Poke Poke and Locavore, the Lyttles also own Xtensions Salon, which now has 10 branches nationwide. The couple, who first met a decade ago in their early 20s, shares the same passion for entrepreneurship and love for culinary arts.
At the age of fifteen, Speedy was selling imported perfume that was not available in Manila. Alta remembers that in grade school, she was selling Chinese jackstones, stationary and stickers to classmates.
“My mom had a big fashion brand supplying for SM Department Store, and I studied and worked in fashion,” says Alta, who manages Xtensions Salon.
Together with a group of friends, the couple opened Locavore Kitchen and Drinks in Kapitolyo, Pasig in 2014. Locavore soon became a popular choice among diners in Metro Manila. They opened a second branch in Bonifacio Global City.
Speedy is optimistic about the expansion of Poke Poke. “We want to target everybody. That is why we are working hard in marketing and educating people on what Poke is. There is a perception that eating healthy is bland. We want to change that,” says Speedy.
“It is not gonna stop here,” Alta says in an interview at Poke Poke’s latest store that opened at SM Megamall in August 2017. “Next year, we are thinking of putting up four more outlets, and that is the most conservative. But since we will be open for franchising, I feel that four will be too conservative or too little. Who knows, we may open 10,” she says.
Alta says they need to scale up the brand to ensure the continuous supply of fresh fish and vegetables, which Poke is most known for.
Alta says she expects the brand to become more popular as more millennials discover the benefits of eating healthy food. “Eventually, a lot of people would be leaning towards healthy food. More people are becoming health conscious, because of the illnesses associated with modern lifestyle. People now watch their diet,” she says.
Speedy says the plan is to expand in Metro Manila first, because of its very large market. “For franchises, we will be accepting even outside the malls,” he says,
He says other restaurants have tried to duplicate the success of Poke Poke by introducing Poke bowls in their menu.
Alta, however, says it is not as easy as serving an ordinary rice bowl. “The stock turnover is fast. We don’t stock fish, because freshness might suffer. Since we already have four branches, it is not difficult for us to dispose the supplies. We want to stay fresh,” she says.
Alta says they are now reinforcing their marketing efforts to make more people try Poke and discover the benefits of eating healthy food. “We are getting there, but we have to exert more efforts to introduce the brand to them,” she says.