Fast-food chains in Metro Manila are enjoying brisk sales and continuously expanding strategically fueled by the robust growth of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, which operates 24x7.

Rommel Juan, CEO and President of Binalot Food Fiesta, said that fast food chains are conservatively posting 15 percent increase in sales and have been expanding by as much as 20 percent, especially in areas where BPO centers are located.

Juan said that for Binalot alone, which has a total of 40 stores already, half of that are located in buildings or in areas near BPO centers. Binalot has been experiencing as much as 20 percent increase in sales year on year.

BPO hubs such as the Makati area, Ortigas Center, Sucat, Libis, and Alabang are just among the few areas where fast food chains are open 24 hours a day and are building new outlets.

The Ayala Avenue, which used to be conservative sporting its snooty financial district character, is now lined-up with all the fast food chains which are open 24x7.

“This has boosted the local economy, creating more jobs and business opportunities not only for services catering to the increasing number of BPO workers,” Juan said.

The BPO industry is predicted to grow by 25 to 30 percent this year and has reportedly already attained 50 percent of its P95-billion revenue target for 2010 for the first half of the year. BPO Association of the Philippines president Oscar Sanez said that more than half of the group's members are expanding between 6 to 50 percent in terms of revenue growth. Juan said that his fast food chain is taking advantage of this growth by opening up new branches to cater to BPO employees.

"Since our company started, a big share of our market included BPO companies. I guess it’s because we provide an alternative and truly Pinoy take on fast-food take-out and delivery,” Juan said adding that they are continuing to tap the BPO market.

About 50 percent of its Binalot branches are located in buildings with BPO companies or in areas near them. It has branches in Greenbelt, Dela Costa, Madison Pioneer, Market Market, Intramuros, Emerald Ave. Ortigas, Southgate Alphaland, and the recently-inaugurated Cybermall Eastwood branches.

Eastwood City is one of the country’s earliest BPO hubs. Binalot’s new store in the area is part of its strategy to provide food options to the growing number of BPO employees Eastwood City.