Ben & Lyn Chocolate, Inc. is a home-based enterprise from Agus-us, Indang, Cavite engaged in manufacturing/producing cacao-based products managed by a couple, Mr. Marvin Vidallon Vicedo and Ms. Irmalyn Astrero Vicedo (Marketing Director). This is the story of their growth and success.

Ms. Irmalyn Astrero Vicedo, a native of Pangasinan, is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education in Pangasinan State University. Mr. Marvin Vidallon Vicedo, having been employed for too long, realized in turn that their salaries were still not enough to sustain their needs as their family became bigger. They are blessed with two lovely children, a nine year old boy and a seven year old daughter.

Mr. Vicedo then partnered with his boss and decided to put up a business that is not easily copied or imitated. They came up with the idea of manufacturing cacao-based products. Initially, they started producing tablea or cacao tablets.

The business started way back in 2002 but it was in an on-and-off basis due to Mr. Vicedo’s employment status. In 2015, they concentrated on the business but they were still not earning much. They encountered problems such as sourcing for good quality raw materials like cacao beans and looking for a more spacious and suitable production area. They addressed the need for good quality cacao beans through outsourcing and found a supplier from Davao. At present, they have acquired a parcel of land where they will put up a better production area, which they are paying on an installment basis.

In 2018, Ms. Irmalyn participated in the third batch of DTI-Cavite’s Kapatid Mentor Micro-Entrepreneurs (KMME) program. Through KMME, she became equipped with the business knowledge, information and wisdom from various mentors in the program. She was coached and mentored starting from having a good business mindset, having a good business network, marketing up to innovating their products.

Ben & Lyn Chocolate, Inc. also participated in Kalakal Calabarzon 2016, a regional trade fair organized by DTI-IVA. Moreover, they have attended seminars on good manufacturing practices and FDA registration. They are very thankful for the seminars for they were able to widen their networks and market through them.

Before joining the programs of DTI, they have a gross sale of about P100,000. It was boosted up to P160,000 per month after. Through this, they are now able to pay the lot they have acquired for their new production area. Their children are even telling them that they also want to engage in business based on what their parents are experiencing.

Lastly, Mr. Vicedo shared that they are still in the process of further innovating their products and researching on other business ventures, such as coconut products.

Photos taken from the Facebook page of Ben & Lyn Chocolate, Inc.
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Date of Release: 18 November 2019

Written: Darrell Butch Ayon
NC Business Counsellor

Edited: Marisol U. Negrosa
NC Business Counsellor