THE Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) concluded its Cebu Business Month (CBM) celebration by awarding six Cebuano Entrepreneurs who have successfully carved their names in the Cebu’s business industry last Friday at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel.
Steve Benitez, President Bo’s Coffee was recognized as the Entrepreneur of the Year.
Benitez love for travel and coffee has inspired him to open up a coffee shop in Cebu. Despite learning that Cebu was not yet into the coffee shop culture, still, he took the risk and opened up his first branch in 1996. As what he has expected that it was going to be an uphill battle in gaining regular customers for the first couple of months after earning P300 or less in a day which was not enough for the monthly rental, still, he remained positive in doing what they are good at and focused on homegrown coffee. Upon reaching the sixth month, Bo’s Coffee shop has finally taken off and 23 years after, they have over a hundred branch nationwide and this year opened its first branch outside of the Philippines.
“There is no secret why we stayed this long, what we just did was keeping the eye on the ball. Focused on what we want to achieve. For the last 23 years, we never swayed out from the coffee space and put our focus on coffee and do things we are good at and strengthen it,” said Benitez.
He added that one of the reasons why they have stayed this long is because they are pretty much focused on positioning as a homegrown coffee brand. They are now highlighting coffee origins which are 100 percent arabica and higher quality.
The other awardees were President and CEO of F2 Logistics Philippines, Inc. Efren Uy as Grand Chamber Award of Distinction, FDR Group of Companies President Engr. Paul Revalde as countryside Entrepreneur, Melissa Ann Lim-Young, the managing director of Bubble Tea Station bagging the Young Entrepreneur, Café Georg’s chef and owner Silvia “Bunny” Ludo-Alcordo as a small business entrepreneur and the Chairman & Founder of MSY Charitable Foundation Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung as the Socially Responsible Entrepreneur.
Through this event, the Chamber aims to create more successful and outstanding entrepreneurs and increase Cebu’s middle-income society. More importantly, it will serve as venue for business leaders and stakeholders from industries to gather, meet, and establish new relations.
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