Proudly Filipino 
“In coming up with your own food concept, try to capitalize and ‘own’ a current trend, which includes healthy eating, use of Filipino 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,” — RJ Ledesma, Mercato Centrale co-founder and Globe myBusiness brand ambassador.
Awesome inspiration from Ledesma, who spoke 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)”, this year’s biggest search for the next up-and-coming food startup business. He also emphasized the need for seize emerging trends and opportunities, take advantage of new information and communication technology (ICT) capabilities – all of which have helped his food market expand progressively.
So how did he do it? Here are the ways that helped him expand and be on top of the game.
AdBlast and myShopkeeper
“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.
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. 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.
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