Filipinos have observed an increase in home-based food companies in the last two years. Many Filipinos have stepped into the field of entrepreneurship, offering everything from delicious pastries to hearty cuisine, comfort food to artisanal beverages. But, in the face of a global pandemic, what does it take for a food company to thrive?
La Germania is starting a video project called Food Babies to encourage more Filipinos to start their own food enterprises. Starting in February, La Germania will publish special pieces on food enterprises that have persevered and prospered in the face of adversity. This video project will only be available on their Facebook page and YouTube channel. These food enterprises shared some of their success secrets with La Germania as a sneak peek at the future project.
Claudia’s (@claudias.ph) is a prominent online bakeshop that specializes in chunky, gooey baked cookies and blondies. Claudia Tagle, the company’s founder and owner, believes that in order to stand out from the competition, business owners must focus on their social media content, especially since clients “eat with their eyes.”
“It’s critical for you to have those really excellent images of your food or the things that you’re selling,” Tagle said, referring to food photography and social media content as examples. “I have slower days or months, and I believe that consistency is important. You only need to improve your marketing or promotion skills, because your loyal clients will return.”
She also talked about how important it is to engage with customers and form relationships with them. “What keeps me going is hearing from my customers, especially when they say how much they appreciate the cookies or blondies.” Receiving feedback on what your customers like and dislike about your items might help you improve.”
Believe in your product
Butterboy Bakehouse (@butterboyph) focuses on different kinds of croissants and baked goods to make pastries more affordable and accessible for everyday Filipinos.
Head baker and owner Hilder Demeterio credits his businesses’ wins to two key ingredients. “You should seek knowledge from everywhere, like YouTube videos or classes. You should just try to absorb whatever you can,” he said.
Growing up, Hilder was always a lover of food from a distance. It wasn’t until 2018 that he finally began to experiment with baking after meeting his boyfriend, Jason. An architect by profession, Hilder took lessons from his relatives and sought knowledge online, beating the misconception that you need to be a professional cook to start a successful food business.
Moreover, he believes that it’s important for aspiring foodpreneurs to believe in their products as if they’re the brand’s number one fan. “In the middle of the pandemic, I was 6 months unemployed. I borrowed money from my parents, and I emptied pretty much all of my savings. Pati sa boyfriend ko. So during that time, I took a leap of faith and I bought all my own equipment, tapos ayun, we jumped into the unknown with only the knowledge na ‘I think we have something good here’.”
To aspiring foodpreneurs, it is your faith and confidence in the uniqueness of your products that will help your business survive all the ups and downs of the current landscape!
Cook with passion
For restaurateurs Wendel and Portia Habaluyas, The Purple Wok (@thepurplewok) began as a way to support their loyal kitchen staff who were laid-off due to the pandemic. “These people have been loyal to us for many years now, so it was very painful for us to see them feeling hopeless,” said Portia.
For the power couple behind The Purple Wok, it’s all about following your passion. “The most fun part of running a food business is doing what I love to do. Our recipes were created out of passion. They were made out of love. We’ve perfected the recipes, and we do not compromise the quality of our food,” the couple told La Germania.
As for what advice they would give aspiring entrepreneurs, Wendel says: “Never create a recipe just for a business and just to create money. Especially nowadays, we noticed that Filipinos are willing to pay a premium or extra for good and quality food. If there’s one piece of advice we can give to people who want to start a food business, it is for you to cook with passion and prepare your food with passion.”
These tidbits of wisdom are only some of the valuable lessons viewers can learn from the La Germania Food Babies series. While each featured business owner may have their specialty and recipe for success, what they all have in common is that the most important aspect to your brand’s success is investing in high-quality kitchen equipment like La Germania!
Built according to the highest European standards in terms of construction and design, La Germania appliances allow you to prepare a multitude of dishes in an efficient and easy way. With guaranteed durability and superior quality, they’re a good investment for you to bring out your inner foodpreneur and climb the ladder to culinary success.
La Germania products are available online through La Germania’s official e-commerce website www.lagermaniaph.com and e-commerce platforms on Shopee and Lazada. You may follow the trusted kitchen and appliance brand’s official Facebook and Instagram accounts for more information on La Germania and its products.
