Poor farm-to-market infrastructure, higher cost of feed products versus neighboring countries, import liberalization, smaller margins, rising operating costs, high bargaining power of major fast food chains and supermarket groups, commoditization – these were major problems that Bounty Agro had to contend with simultaneously a decade ago. External forces were enough to stop any additional investment and perhaps, even divest in […]
interviews
Happy Skin is a cosmetics brand that was recently awarded by Ayala Malls as the Most Promising Retailer for 2015 and by Watsons as the Most Promising New Cosmetic Brand of the Year for 2015. A former marketing executive of Unilever, its CEO Jacqe Gutierrez shares her insights about entering a highly competitive cosmetics industry in the Philippines. Q1: There […]
Malcolm Pick is a certified coach and expert in IT and competency assessment, among many others. A former partner of SGV in management services (now called Accenture) for Philippine and Malaysia, he was consultant of Price Waterhouse Coopers in UK and Systems Manager of Levi Strauss in Belgium. He earned his mathematical physics degree (Honours) at the University of Birmingham […]
Samie Lim has a unique gift of visualizing the future economic development of our country, and the talent for harnessing the bayanihan spirit of business leaders by making things happen. He focuses on building unorganized business segments into strong industrial sectors with his mission ‘to serve the greatest numbers of people.’ He has spearheaded the movement to modernize our retail […]
Aurora Mangubat-Suarez was Publisher of Summit Media before becoming an independent life coach and marketing consultant. A winner of the Mansmith Young Market Masters Awards (Mansmith YMMA) in 2006, she shares her insights about her journey from being a corporate executive to a life coach focusing on women achievers. Q1: You rose from the ranks and became a magazine publisher […]
Raymund Magdaluyo is one of the Philippines’ most successful restaurateurs. He has helped shape many seafood dining restaurant concepts (Red Crab Alimango House, ClawDaddy, Blackbeard’s Seafood Island, Crustasia, Johnny Kahuku Hawaiian Shrimp House), as well as non-seafood restaurant concepts (SumoSam and related restaurants, New Orleans, Cafe Creole, Patriots, Wolfgang’s Steak House). He was recipient of the Mansmith Young Market Masters (YMMA) […]
Dr. Alan Escalona took over Fruit Magic in 1999 and has expanded via company and franchised stores while adding new concepts along the way. He is currently president of the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA). He shares his insights about the vision and growth strategy of Fruit Magic and his franchising business. Q1: Your group took over the stores of RPM Fruit Magic in […]
Market leader Cebu Pacific Air is not only known for having low fare services, but also very agile with their marketing communications and sales promotions. VP Marketing Candice Alabanza-Iyog selflessly shares her insights on how they do a campaign internally. Q1: When Leonardo de Caprio won his first Oscar, Cebu Pacific Air immediately launched a promo free trip to Guam […]
Q1: Acer is no. 1 player in the PC industry in the Philippines. How has the situation changed with smartphones getting cheaper and better, and how have you responded to slower demand to protect your PC lead? A: Acer Philippines is grateful to have sustained its No.1 post in the PC market for several years, we owe it to our […]
Q1: SEAOIL is the largest independent fuel company in the Philippines and is now one of the top 60 corporations in revenues. Can you share with us the major challenges you encountered as a new entrant in the retail business in 1997 and how you overcame them? A: When we started the retail business, we were aware that we will compete with industry giants […]