Food entrepreneurs from across the Visayas are learning that a great kitchen is only the starting point. Merchants from Central, Eastern, and Western Visayas recently gathered in Cebu City for foodpanda’s CRAVE Partner Summit & Awards 2026, where the theme was clear: regional food businesses can grow well beyond their physical storefronts with the right digital tools.
More than delivery: tools for growth
The summit centered on empowering homegrown merchants to thrive in a shifting market. Beyond delivery logistics, foodpanda is helping regional vendors use real-time customer analytics, targeted marketing solutions, and improved delivery fulfillment to capture demand from both locals and visiting tourists.
“Our mission is to actively power the growth of our merchant partners,” said Patricia Jacinto, Director for Growth and Marketing at foodpanda Philippines. “When Visayan restaurants combine their culinary expertise with foodpanda’s ecosystem and insights, they can respond faster to market shifts, drive higher order volumes, and sustainably scale their businesses beyond physical storefronts.”
Honoring the Visayas’ top-growing brands
CRAVE 2026 recognized regional partners that used foodpanda’s platform to reach exceptional business performance and operational scale across five award categories.
| Award | What it recognizes | Honorees |
| Pau-Pau’s Top of Table | Market leadership and sales performance | Alberto’s Pizza, Sal’s Bar and Restaurant, Dimsum Break, Ribshack, PorkHub |
| Pau-Pau’s Momentum Master | Outstanding year-on-year growth in the first half of 2026 | Sisigan Sa Doctors, Ma. Lina Catering Services, The Original AA BBQ, Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries, Tiktilaok |
| Pau-Pau’s Brand Spotlight | Innovative marketing and strong platform partnership | Felisa’s Cafe & Restaurant, Mom Rose, Cebu’s Tasty Lechon, Cribs, Ram’s Pizza, Pasta and Milktea, Metro Retail Supermarket |
| Operational Excellence | Seamless fulfillment and high service reliability | Hybrid Coffee, Somac Korean Restaurant, Got Tea? Crafted Milk Tea, Popcha Milktea Station, Gabby’s Bistro, Rose Pharmacy |
| People’s Palate Award | Crowd favorites with outstanding ratings and repeat orders | Hukad Everyday Filipino, SAJ HUT, Mango Magic, Dapogan, Wingers Unlimited |
Getting ready for the holiday season
To support long-term restaurant growth ahead of the holidays, foodpanda is deepening its ecosystem with enhanced AI-driven forecasting tools and automated marketing features. The goal is to help regional vendors maximize daily capacity and attract repeat diners.
“We view ourselves as a complete growth engine for regional entrepreneurs,” Jacinto added. “We’re here to ensure local food brands across the Visayas have every technological advantage needed to thrive.”
What’s next
After its successful Cebu leg, the nationwide CRAVE 2026 roadshow heads to Manila for its final stop.