Innovation

Being a banker for 16 years, Virgie Angeles decided to leave the industry and start her own business. She noticed during trade fairs that food items are best sellers compared to bags, which was her first product. There was a drive then to boost the sales of mussels in the city of Bacoor. Some entrepreneurs, together with the local authorities, thought of different ways to make products using mussels. Angeles tried making chips out of it. There are a lot of food products in the market, so she said, "I wanted to show something different; I used fresh tahong and made them into snack food."

Anchoring on the Filipino tradition of bringing pasalubong - a gift to family and friends from a different place- she thought it would be ideal for other Filipinos to share with their relatives and friends abroad. That is, "to share the taste of our Filipino delicacies." She proudly said, "It's all-natural since we don't put preservatives or additives—an excellent alternative to junk food." To make Ocean Fresh Tahong Chips the consumer's first choice when eating healthy snacks, Angeles continuously improves her product's taste, texture, and quality.

Angeles considers herself a mompreneur. She is an inspirational woman who successfully operates her business with dedication, determination, and vision while caring for her children. Believing in women's abilities, Angeles empowered them by giving them opportunities to work in her business. She hired women from the production stage up to marketing, helping her deliver the best product for their customers.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has a program called ONE TOWN, ONE PRODUCT (OTOP) PHILIPPINES. It was developed for Micro, Small, and Medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) as the government's customized intervention to drive inclusive local economic growth. The program enables localities and communities to determine, develop, support, and promote products or services rooted in their local culture, community resources, creativity, connection, and competitive advantage (Department of Trade and Industry, n.d.). In Bacoor, Ocean Fresh Tahong Chips is considered the town's pride.

Inspiration

Ocean Fresh Tahong Chips started in September 2008 when Angeles contemplated what sustainable product she could venture into. “There is an abundance of raw materials, that is, fresh tahong, in our locality,” said Angeles, inspiring her to pursue its production. Angeles stated, “As a resident of Bacoor, I wanted to use my hometown’s product.” She actively participated in local and national government seminars to enrich her knowledge. “All seminars equip me with an insightful and strong business management, production, and marketing foundation.” She also did her research on how to improve her product further. At trade shows, she offers free food tastings to get customer feedback. She wanted to provide a “unique-tasting snack that people would crave.”

The help of the Philippine government and its line agencies for small businesses like hers motivated her to strive. “The Provincial Cooperative, Livelihood & Entrepreneurial Development Office (PCLEDO) supports and encourages me in this business.” Believing in the potential of her product, driven with hard work and perseverance, she was able to make her business flourish.

Overall impact

Ocean Fresh Tahong Chips has produced a healthy snack that has positively impacted the community for fifteen years. It gives livelihood to women who want to provide for their families. The initiative of this business to continually review its processes not only improves the product quality but, most often, results in cost reduction, keeping the product accessible to everyone who enjoys it.

“It was first introduced at pasalubong centers in Tagaytay,” - a popular tourist destination in Cavite. The availability of this product to different establishments opens up curiosity about the city of Bacoor, thereby encouraging tourists to explore the area for other great products, places to go to, and activities to try.

Business benefit

Angeles commented that Ocean Fresh Tahong Chips was a “huge hit in trade fairs and bazaars.” The company's current clients include major supermarkets in addition to the pasalubong centers it initially partnered with. With a growth mindset, the goal is to expand the market from Cavite to other parts of the country and outside the Philippines in the next five years. A 30% target increase in sales annually would require an additional workforce that would benefit the women in the area. This suggests that with the business's success, aside from its sustainability benefits, it also positively impacts its stakeholders.

Social and environmental benefit

Angeles mentioned several benefits in terms of the environmental and social impact of the business. “Women use the shells of mussels to make decorations and accessories.” This effectively reduces possible waste generated from the product’s raw materials and provides extra income for them. Angeles also ensures that women have excellent working conditions, including proper ventilation, appropriate lighting, personal protective equipment, and work uniforms.

Proper garbage handling is strictly observed and follows a specific disposal schedule. A detailed production and quality control procedure is in place to ensure efficient and wise energy consumption. This initiative leads to a more reliable power supply for the community.

Interview

Virgie Baylon Angeles, Owner/General Manager