Cebu’s Topline details expansion plans

Cebu-based Top Line Business Development Corp. (Topline) is looking to expand its fuels business as it intends to spend P210 million for nine additional stations, and possibly enter markets outside the province moving forward.

In a media roundtable, Topline president Eugene Erik Lim said the company — through its subsidiary Light Fuels Corp. (LFC) — is looking to put up nine branches this year after introducing its first in Mandaue City in 2023.

The company said it is looking at a P10 million to P15 million cost per station, with the nine new stations set to be a mix of flagship stores and “express” stations which will cater to two-wheeled and light four-wheeled vehicles.

“We’re looking at building Light Fuels Express stations, smaller, catering to two-wheeled or light vehicles, mga motorcycles,” he told reporters in Makati City, with two scheduled to be opened in August.

“We’re looking at a niche market now that we can focus on, so aside from the real big flagship, we’re also looking at these smaller stations,” he added, noting that the bigger stations would cost more due to property acquisition and rental prices.

Citing data from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Topline said the express stations seek to cater to a majority of vehicles in Central Visayas,  as 68% of vehicles in the area are motorcycles.

Lim said Topline seeks to expand even further moving forward, possibly within the Visayas area and then eventually outside.

“We hope (to expand outside Cebu), but that’s always an option. But we’re just making sure lang baby steps muna, going through the process and then eventually, we’ll never know after,” he said.

The fuel of the Light Fuels stations will be supplied and distributed by Topline Logistics and Development Corp., another subsidiary which is engaged in importation, trading, distribution, and marketing of liquid fuel and other petroleum-based products.

Lim said the logistics business will have to expand along with the establishment of more fuel stations, as these will have to go hand-in-hand with one another.

“We want to make sure that the systems, the processes, are all in place before probably expanding further. It’s probably our mindset for Topline,” Lim said.

“These are things that’s quite important kasi (because) if you expand rapidly tapos you don’t have a really good base, there’s a problem there eh, so now we’re just making sure that the base is intact and then hopefully expansion would be another option,” he added.

Topline, through its affiliates, is also involved in port operations and management (Pier Eighty-Eight Ventures Inc.), real estate development (Topline Properties and Development Corp.), clean and green technology (Topline Energy and Power Development Corp.), port and ferry terminal operations (Topline Marine Wharf Development Corp.), technology research and development (Topline Hi Tech and Synergy Corp.), and restaurant operations and manpower services (Topline Services and Development Corp.)
—RF, GMA Integrated News