Match Contract Furniture has quietly shaped the Filipino dining experience—not with recipes, but with comfort, functionality, and the kind of design that invites you to stay a little longer.
In the world of food, we celebrate chefs. But behind every memorable restaurant, there’s also the interior design—the chairs, the tables, the spaces that hold stories. And behind that vision is founder Gilbert Lee, whose design philosophy has quietly reshaped restaurants across the country.
As WOFEX marks 25 years of transforming the Philippine foodservice industry, it’s also a moment to celebrate creative collaborators like Match—those who make dining feel like an experience, not just a transaction.
Inside Match Contract Furniture: More Than a Supplier
Gilbert Lee started Match not just to sell furniture, but to fill a gap he saw in the local dining landscape.
“When I began, restaurant owners were just starting to understand that good furniture could improve the dining atmosphere,” he recalls. “There was a growing interest in how design could enhance the customer experience.”
Match found its rhythm during a time when Filipino cafés and restaurants were still finding their style. Now, years later, it’s become a name many restaurateurs trust to help them translate vision into space.
One of Match’s earliest projects was with Ikomai, a beloved neighborhood restaurant that still uses the original furniture eight years on. “They haven’t replaced a single piece,” Gilbert says. “It still looks brand new. That says something about our materials—but also about the kind of relationship we build with our clients.”
How Match Contract Furniture Works With the Industry
The Match process doesn’t begin with catalogs or measurements—it begins with a conversation. Every project starts by identifying the client’s vision, category, and customer flow. From there, Gilbert and his team guide restaurateurs and designers through finishes, layouts, and furniture selections that balance both brand identity and operational needs.
“What Match offers isn’t just furniture—it’s peace of mind.”
Clients describe the process as collaborative, with on-time delivery, smart material suggestions, and flexibility built into the system. With years of experience behind them, Match understands the pressure points of running a restaurant and builds products to survive the pace of real service.
This commitment to partnership is why Match is trusted by some of the country’s most respected creatives. Designers Ivy and Cynthia Almario credit Gilbert as a key force behind many of their transformations:
“People always say Cyn and I are magicians,” they share. “But what they don’t see are the trusted sources who help us make things happen. Gilbert of Match Furniture stands first in that line.”
Interior designer Macie Lorenzo adds:
“Match’s products are top-notch, and their after-sales service is just fantastic. They go the extra mile to make sure we’re happy.”
For Architect Andrew Trinidad, it’s Gilbert’s technical fluency that makes him indispensable.
“He understands both the designer’s vision and the operator’s realities. It’s not just about selling—it’s about solving. And that earns trust.”
Whether it’s plush lounge seating that invites guests to linger or compact chairs that encourage quick turnover, every detail is thought through. Gilbert’s approach isn’t decorative—it’s strategic.
The Shift Toward Story-Driven Spaces
In the last decade, Filipino restaurants have undergone a quiet revolution in design. Restaurateurs are no longer satisfied with functional basics—they want personality, polish, and photogenic appeal.
The pandemic only intensified this. Suddenly, space had to signal not just ambiance but comfort and safety. Match responded with flexible configurations and durable, easy-to-clean finishes that kept pace with evolving health standards.
Today, the demand is shifting again. Clients are asking for bold colors, shape-driven seating, and pieces that reflect the uniqueness of their concept. Match delivers not just options, but insights—distilling trend and timelessness into something usable.
A Seat at the WOFEX Table
For Gilbert, being part of WOFEX’s 25-year journey feels like coming full circle.
“WOFEX has been a connector. It brings together new ideas, innovations, and people,” he says. “To be part of that story pushes us to do better design.”
Match has quietly supported hundreds of food businesses across the country, from startup cafés to institutional restaurant groups. Their strength isn’t in scale—it’s in consistency. They’re not just furnishing rooms. They’re helping brands come to life.
With new product lines, fresh collaborations, and a deepening understanding of Filipino F&B spaces, Match is poised for a new decade of growth—one project, one relationship, one chair at a time.
The Invisible Ingredient
Furniture doesn’t always get credit. But it holds the weight of every gathering. It’s the surface where memories are made, the seat where conversations stretch past dessert, the silent partner in every dining experience.
“Design isn’t decoration—it’s memory,” Gilbert says. “And the best furniture doesn’t just fill a space. It helps you remember how that space made you feel.”
As WOFEX celebrates the stories that have shaped the Filipino food world, Match Contract Furniture reminds us that some of the most important players are the ones who work quietly—so the spotlight can shine where it matters.
For inquiries contact Match Contract Furniture at www.matchcontract.ph
Read more from the WOFEX 25 Series
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Farmers and Chefs Collaboration: How WOFEX Is Rooting Filipino Food in Dignity
- WOFEX at 25: Joel Pascual’s Room of Possibility
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Chef Kenneth Cacho: Mastery with Heart, Discipline with Soul
What’s the most unforgettable restaurant space you’ve been in—and what made it feel right? Share your thoughts in the comments.
