Celebrity myBusiness Entrepreneur: Use Trends, Opportunities to Move Up on Food Business

Mercato Centrale co-founder and Globe myBusiness brand ambassador RJ Ledesma encouraged aspiring food entrepreneurs to seize emerging trends and opportunities, as well as take advantage of new information and communication technology (ICT) capabilities – all of which have helped his food market expand progressively.

“In coming up with your own food concept, try to capitalize and ‘own’ a current trend, which includes healthy eating, use of Filiipino elements in the total food concept, and considering platforms such as night food markets like Mercato as an ideal venue to launch a new food business,” said Ledesma before aspiring food business owners during the “The Food Startup Entrepreneur Weekend” last Oct. 25 inside the Mercato Centrale tent at the Bonifacio Global City. This is in preparation for the launch of “The Next Big Food Entrepreneur (TNBFE).” the year’s biggest search for the next up-and-coming food startup business.

He also emphasized the need to incorporate the element of ICT to succeed in this trade: “There are actually small-scale solutions available which surprisingly have helped me and Mercato merchants a lot in streamlining work efficiencies – from getting word out about our new locations out there, keeping tabs on stocks and sales, and the like. So far, ICT services from Globe myBusiness such as AdBlast and myShopKeeper, have been helping Mercato Centrale and other businesses with daily operations,” he said.

Ledesma’s Mercato Centrale together with Globe myBusiness, and other media sponsors led the opening of the contest by staging the Startup Entrepreneur Weekend before more than 100 most promising culinary startups. They will vie for a chance of winning P100,000 as seed capital for their business as well as other tools to help their trade courtesy of Globe myBusiness.

The enterprising hopefuls listened-in to Ledesma and a host of other Globe myBusiness industry partners as well as new food business owners. Association of Filipino Franchisers, Inc. Chairman and GMB President Armando Bartolome kicked-off the series of talks with “Winning Strategies of Entrepreneurs,” emphasizing the need for a correct mindset, having a game plan and being unique, ensuring profitability as well as institutionalizing consistency and sustainability for the food startup owners in attendance.

They also learned first-hand information about Globe myBusiness’ AdBlast and myShopkeeper, some of the newest ICT innovations from the micro, small and midsize entrepreneur’s (mSMEs) trusted business advisor. Popular tea shop Moonleaf’s franchisor Adrian Adriano as well as franchisee Shella Faytaren attested to the effectiveness of AdBlast for targeted, location-based SMS advertising in lieu of flyering and manual texting, as well myShopkeeper for stocks and sales information access on-the-go, eliminating manual inventory monitoring.

“One of the most demanding and challenging ventures to be established is with the food business, given their various requirements to survive and succeed – from the most basic such as inventory keeping, to promoting themselves to the public. It is our commitment to see their growth and development by helping them with our wide range of products and services customized for their needs, such as myShopKeeper and AdBlast. More importantly, by powering platforms such as ‘The Next Big Food Entrepreneur,’ we provide them with inspiring opportunities to hopefully succeed with their new endeavors in the food business,” said Senior Vice President for Globe myBusiness Martha Sazon.

Participants of TNBFE will go through an open market food taste test on Friday, Nov. 7, where they will sample their bite-sized concoctions to Mercato Centrale diners. Fifteen will qualify to the next round, where they will have the privilege to sell and market their products in the different Mercato Centrale markets around Metro Manila, including their flagship market in Bonifacio Global City. They will also have a tech-powered headstart with a P899 AdBlast package of choice, either with the AdBlast Profile service for hyper-targeted texts based on gender, mobile usage and interests, among others, or the AdBlast Zone variant for geo-targeted SMS blasts.

Afterwards, contestants will need to submit and defend their business plan before the contest jury, including Ledesma. The one adjudged as “The Next Big Food Entrepreneur” gets to take advantage of an AdBlast campaign worth P2,999, aside from the rare privilege of boosting the business with the P100,000 startup seed money.

For more information on Globe myBusiness’ customizable products and solutions, visit www.mybusiness.globe.com.ph.

Ledesma: Seize emerging trends and opportunities, especially in communications technology.