CARRYING ON Margarita Fores (second from left) can relaxation nicely realizing that she has left Cibo within the good fingers of her household and shut associates led by (from left) sister Bledes, Edgar Allan Caper (COO) and brother Oye (CFO). —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
A brilliant gentle within the culinary world instantly went out that morning of Feb. 11 when celebrated chef and restaurateur Margarita Araneta Fores handed away unexpectedly.
The flourishing Cibo restaurant group that she arrange again in 1997 is devastated by the lack of their 65-year-old chief, however it isn’t about to fade away anytime quickly.
That’s as a result of Fores had finalized a succession plan when the group turned 25 years outdated, such that whereas grieving, her relations and longtime associates are greater than prepared to hold on her legacy.
Edgar Allan Caper, a multiawarded advertising skilled, will proceed to steer operations. He was elevated to chief working officer (COO) in 2022 after serving as Fores’ chief of employees for a yr.
Then anticipated to tackle extra tasks on the culinary aspect is Jorge Mendez, a Tatler Rising Chef Awardee for 2023 who had labored side-by-side with Fores as Cibo government chef and director for analysis and growth. He’ll tackle the position of culinary innovation director at Cibo.
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Her siblings Oye and Bledes Fores-Legarda sit as managing administrators and becoming a member of them is Fores’ son Amado, himself a celebrated restaurateur. He joins his cousin, Mercedes Fores, who joined the group final yr as chief advertising officer.
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Oye, who can be chief monetary officer (CFO) of the increasing group, has stated that his sister determined to place professionals in prime administration as she believes that an government place shouldn’t be a birthright however one that’s earned.
“[The company] is additional strengthened when the professionals share the identical core values of the enterprise homeowners. We at Cibo are fortunate to have such a staff,” Oye says.
‘Seamless transition’
The late Fores’ belief in her skilled administration staff has not been in useless as over the previous years, Cibo has solely moved from energy to energy.
Final yr, its prime line surged by 32 p.c to hit P1.3 billion, with revenues coming primarily from a restaurant group that hit 32 branches on the finish of 2024.
This yr, the chain is anticipated to develop even additional with gross revenues focused to hit P1.7 billion from 38 branches.
This places Cibo on monitor to reaching its aim to have 50 eating places with mixed gross revenues of a minimum of P2.5 billion inside the subsequent two to 3 years.
Certainly, Cibo stays on growth mode and Cibo’s companions are assured that these Fores left behind are greater than as much as the duty of shifting the group ahead, guided by her imaginative and prescient and the reminiscence of her ardour for good meals and wonderful customer support.
Steven Tan, president of SM Supermalls, says that the group acknowledges how Fores was “very intentional in making certain a seamless transition of management; on the time, anticipating her slowing down and future retirement.”
Tan says having so many shut relations on the helm was no coincidence as they “greatest perceive the provenance and the imaginative and prescient that Margarita had amassed in 28 years of Cibo’s illustrious existence.”
“SM Supermalls respects their dedication to proceed the Cibo legacy, and has the utmost belief of their understanding of what this era entails, because it was Margarita herself who took on the mantle of placing succession and continuity in place,” Tan says.
Alliance International Group CEO Kevin Tan shares the identical view, saying that he’s comforted realizing that Fores left with the peace of thoughts that all the things she constructed would proceed to flourish below the management she trusted and believed in.
Tan, who final spoke to her in the course of the go to of movie star chef Gordon Ramsay, says that Fores was particularly pleased along with her administration staff—Oye Fores, Bledes Fores-Legarda, Edgar Allan Caper, Chef Jorge Mendez, Mercedes Fores—who proceed to uphold the values and excellence that she had instilled.
“I’ve little doubt that they’ll honor Margarita’s imaginative and prescient and carry it ahead with the identical dedication and fervour,” he provides.
Robina Gokongwei-Pe of Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc.likewise expresses confidence within the skill of the successors to hold on Fores’ legacy, saying that she is “sure that Cibo’s future is brilliant, and its custom of excellence will proceed to flourish and encourage.”
Ayala Corp., Ayala Land and Ayala Malls have additionally expressed their unwavering help for the group and is assured that the group has been left in good fingers.
“We’ll proceed to have fun Margarita’s extraordinary legacy. We’re sure that the story and success of Cibo will proceed ahead,” says Ayala Corp. chair Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala and the opposite prime leaders of the Ayala group.
“We’ve little doubt that this subsequent chapter will convey continued development and success for Cibo,” the group provides.
Gone however not forgotten
Chef Mendez is totally conscious of the burden of accountability thrust upon his shoulders however he believes that he was ready by Fores herself. He has additionally dedicated to proceed her legacy.
“We stay steadfast in honoring the inspiration she constructed whereas embracing the evolving tastes of a brand new era – simply as she all the time envisioned,” he says, “Her creativity and spirit will proceed to encourage all the things we do, making certain that her affect lives on in each dish, each expertise and each second shared at Cibo.”
Caper, who has labored alongside Fores for 10 years, made the identical dedication and ensures the employees, officers and particularly the purchasers of Cibo that Fores could also be gone however she might be ever current.
“We’re prepared. Her legacy lives on – not simply within the meals we serve, however within the folks she nurtured, the requirements she set and the mission she entrusted to us. We’ll carry her imaginative and prescient ahead, making life and dwelling extra lovely and scrumptious for others,” he says.
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“And so, we transfer ahead – not with out her, however due to her,” Caper provides.
