It was two years ago when I informally established Mr. Mimi‘s Kitchen in my humble kitchen to let my time pass and to mend my broken heart as my husband passed away year 2015. I needed something to cope up. Something to drive me busy. And since food is my no. 1 passion, I thought of creating my own “gourmet tuyo”. Around this time year 2016 I was not really like in full production. I just produced whenever I feel I have to or if the demand is really getting high. I do everything on my own from sourcing out my items, from mis-en-place, to production till marketing my item. So for a whole year, I can only make 1000 bottles, which I thought that time is okay because I did everything independently.
April 2018 when I received a message from DTI Batangas, inviting me to become a part of the KMME Batch 02. At first, I was hesitant for I was not aware that DTI has these programs to help MSMEs sustain and upscale their businesses.
Being under KMME for 3 months, it has molded my entrepreneurial mindset and taught me the technical business aspects.
After the program, I improved my production into triple compared to my past cycle. Now, I can produce over a thousand bottles of gourmet tuyo in a span of 1 and half month which before I can only have that inventory for the whole year…And per weekly basis now, I am using 60-100kg of tuyo. I have now 3-4 staff working with me. I have more clients, my products is on display and sold in stores and restaurants. And my big move now is next year, hopefully on January, I will start constructing my own production house and shop where in it will be the central hub for all my products and clients can just go there and pick up their items. And after this I will start applying for FDA and HALAL certification.
Alongside, I was able to put up a Korean stall located at Malvar Night Market. Also, right there and then, I am able to join both local and national bazaars and trade fairs. All this with my perseverance and hard work the big help of DTI Batangas in encouraging me that everything is possible and that nothing is too small to make you successful.♦
Date of Release: 18 November 2019