Top 10 'Cool' Businesses to Get into this Summer

Summer is here, and with this heat there's no way one can resist these truly Pinoy refreshments. Generations grew up loving them and the variety and style that came with the changing times, but the core remains traditional. Businesses like these are sure to thrive and are ideal for stay-at-home parents because, like the ant story we read to our kids, one has to save for a rainy day (in our case, the school season). Read on to know what cool food biz selections are sure to be a hit this hot season.

1. Halo-halo and -con hielo varieties
This is the most popular and one of the easiest Pinoy summer busters. Turning your driveway or front yard into a halo-halo stand will cost you only a capital of P500 to P800, with a fast return-on-investment (ROI). Making your own ingredients like sweetened banana, jackfruit, garbanzos and beans preserves can reduce your costs, and even give your product a personal, distinctive taste that can keep your customers coming back. Aside from the halo-halo, you can also include choices like mais or saba con hielo.

To get more customers, why not take it to the road? Food carts on wheels have always been around but halo-halo on wheels is a new idea that is yet to become popular. A roving halo-halo food cart means no space rental and more customer reach. In a residential area for example, your cart can move to a basketball court for summer league spectators, the town hall and the business area to cater to office employees. The opportunities are just too many.

Below is a list of bike cart makers who can customize your needs for halo-halo on wheels from P14,000 to P19,000.

SnD Foodcart
Lipton Bldg. Mozart St, Greenville Subdivision Brgy Sauyo, Novaliches, Quezon City
4530589

Foodbiz Enterprise
Molave St. Corner Agapito Marcos Hi-way Santolan Pasig City
703-0327/466-0148

Smiley Kim's Food Carts
Unit 2-D Rizza St., Liamzon Vill. Ortiggas, Pasig City
861-7495

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2. Ice Candy
The kids can be absolutely hands-on in an ice candy business. Ingredients needed for an ice candy will cost less than P100 to make, and fruits in season like mango, melon and buco flavorings can cost only P150 or less. Below is an example.

Halo-halo ice candy (idea from http://www.filipinofoodstore.com)
This is fusion of everyone's favorite buco, melon, mango and more all rolled into one delicious treat.

Ingredients:
sago
shredded young coconut meat
diced mango
diced sweetened banana (saba)
melon strips
small sago balls (cooked)
red monggo beans (cooked)
buco juice
evaporated millk
sugar

Procedure:
Mix everything in a bowl and adjust the sweetness according to your taste. Pour the mix into an ice candy bag using a funnel and freeze.

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3. Ice Cream Dealership
Ice cream is  an all-time favorite. People turn to it to celebrate when they're happy and binge on it as a comfort food when they're sad. Making ice cream at home for your family’s consumption may be simple, but if you’re making it to sell, you’ll need to make bigger batches. One option is to become an ice cream retailer. Ice cream companies offer a startup business to individuals with a startup capital for as low as P2,500. While some companies require the retailer to have a store, there are some who support those who wish to sell at home. Freezer rental can be free or with a refundable deposit. Application for dealership is the same for most companies. A survey of your business area and market study is part of the contract, which also includes collaterals such as posters and banners to help you with your sales. Below are ice cream companies that offer dealership.

Arcefoods Corporation
#100 Selecta Drive, Balintawak QC
366-1899 / 366-1883
www.arcedairy.com

Creamline Ice Cream
Bldg. 5270, C.M. Recto Highway, Clark Freeport Zone Clark Field, Pampanga
(045) 599-6949 / 499-1239
Manila Office:
Unit 701 Prestige Tower Condominium, F.Ortigas, Jr, Ave. (Formerly Emerald Ave.), Ortigas Center, Pasig City
+63917-5917508
www.creamlineicecream.com

Dan Eric's Grand Ice Cream
Km 17 Armela Compound West Service Road, Paranaque
823-0512; 0949-4663621

Nestle Ice Cream products
Frozen Plus Distributors, Inc.
200 Vitalez Avenue Vitalez compound, Sucat Paranaque City
381-8841; 856-3550

Selecta Ice Cream
The Mobiling Group, Unilever RFM Ice Cream Inc.
Manggahan Light Industrial Park
A. Rodriguez Avenue, Bo. Manggahan Pasig City
646-2324; 477-7117

Snow Joe Cream Coolers (makers of Snow Joe and Milko)
Building 1303-1304 Angeles Livelihood Complex EPZA, Pulung Cacutud, Angeles City, Pampanga.
http://www.mysnowjoe.com
Manila Distributor: 416-1930, 376-6550

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4. Soft Ice Cream
Plain or jazzed-up, this treat is highly in demand in restos, parties and malls. Putting up a stand would require a soft-serve machine. Entrepreneurs offer a soft serve cart anywhere from P200,000 to P350,000, including royalty fee, cart, machine, equipment, crew recruitment and uniforms, initial stock, business orientation and support. Should you wish to put up a soft-serve ice cream business of your own, food equipment manufacturers can supply you with a unit. A single brand dispenser is between P53,000 and P85,000, while a triple lever is between P85,000 and P110,000. They also provide a demo, support and after sales service. Some would also offer ingredient supplies and point you to relevant contacts for your business needs. Many affordable food cart franchise agencies offering soft ice cream are listed in local online classifieds sites. Below are franchise, pre-mix suppliers and food equipment suppliers you can contact.

Food Cart Franchise:

Mr Softy Ice Cream Inc.
137, Katipunan St., Conception Uno, Marikina City
Tel nos. 998-2114 / 998-2007
http://mrsoftyicecream.com.ph

Miguelito's International Corporation
#8888 Marian Rd.2 Marian Subd. San Martin de Porres
Parañaque City
822-5028
http://www.miguelitoscorp.com
miguelitoscorp@yahoo.com

Pre-mix suppliers for soft-serve

Supersale International Marketing
Divisoria Manila
542-8982; 0919-4105221

Cool Twist Soft Ice Cream
Sucat Paranaque
826-0007; 0919-5049155

Bubbles Best Food Supplies Corp
G/F ACL Suites 251 J.P. Rizal Ave. corner Kalantiaw St. and 20th Ave., Murphy, Cubao
437-2180; 921-3025

Food service equipment

Velasco Kitchen Works
Quezon City
340-1919

Technolux Equipment & Supply Corp
2176 Primo Rivera Street, La Paz, Makati City
897-4477; 899-2739

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5. Fried Ice Cream
Fried ice cream first came out in the late 80s as a novelty ice cream. The batter-like mix is placed on the pan to make ice cream, then served on a cone. New times call for new presentation; now the mix is frozen flat on a cold pan surface, scraped into a roll and given on a paper plate with syrup and sprinkles on top.

Cold pan is the main equipment needed to make fried ice cream. Franchisers for this kind of treat are few which makes it a good reason to put up your own. A cold pan machine costs around P45,000 to P70,000. Franchising a popular brand can cost around P350,000 all-in, including professional consultation and support that can help you with the long-term aspects of your business.

Companies you may contact:

Miguelito's International Corporation
#8888 Marian Rd.2 Marian Subd. San Martin de Porres
Parañaque City
822-5028
http://www.miguelitoscorp.com
miguelitoscorp@yahoo.com

For Food Equipment:

Grandeur Home Gallery
lot 10 blk 86 Katipunan st. cor., Zenaida sbdv. Concepcion dos Marikina City
347-4979
http://aclassgrandeur.webs.com

Dragon Link Kitchen
1532 G Masangkay St., Sta Cruz, Manila
509-3333

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6. Shakes and Slushies
With an electric blender, choice ingredients and a stand, you can have your very own "level-up" samalamig stand. Even the kids can help out and have a memorable and productive summer vacation. Below is a classy blend that can be sold at a friendly price. More ideas can be found at www.yummy.ph

Strawberry Kiwi Slush
(recipe from Smart Parenting)

What you’ll need:
• 3 cups frozen strawberries
• 1/5 cup apple juice
• 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 medium fresh kiwi fruit, peeled and diced

Procedure:
1. In a high-speed blender, combine frozen strawberries, apple juice, and sugar. Blend on high until mixture is smooth.
2. Pour slush into glasses and scoop in a heaping tablespoon of diced kiwi. Stir quickly and serve.

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7. Scramble
The idea of putting up a scramble biz to compete with the many halo-halo stands is what Rowena Geronimo Deocares thought of last year. Franchising a food cart costs P20,000, which was too steep for her, so she sought the help of a good friend who is successful with her own scramble business. Scramble is very easy to make and her whole family offered their support. Here's her story.

"I didn't have an electric blender. My first equipment was a hand mixer borrowed from my mother. My father-in-law made me a nice table from scrap metal and it turned out to look like a real food stand. My husband provided the capital, and I only spent P2,500 for the ingredients. Soon I added more items to my menu, like french fries, siomai and tapsilog to keep it fresh. I got my capital back in 1 1/2 months."

"I think it's important not to expect that you'll earn big, fast. In budgeting, be sure to make a list of your production cost and have a solid plan. Budgeting is not only about money but time as well. Make sure you prioritize home and family needs. Having this kind of business is cheap, simple and fun. I get to befriend kids, teens and seniors who call me 'Tita' and 'Mommy Weng'. Seeing my customers smile and come back for more made me love and devote myself to this venture."

Here's Weng's simple recipe for scramble:

1. Put 2 containers of crushed ice in a bowl.
2. Add 1 1/2 cups of scramble premix classic (available at supermarkets).
3. Add 1 cup of light brown sugar.
4. Mix all the ingredients for 10 minutes, or until the mixture looks smooth.
5. Serve in a cup with your choice of toppings.

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8. Pearl Shake
Pearl shake carts advertised online can be had for P38,000 to P70,000, while franchising big names in pearl shakes is at P350,0000 with bigger incentives and projected returns. Pearl shakes are actually easy to make at home, and require only simple ingredients. Enjoy it with your family, in parties or turn it into a business.

Here's a simple recipe:

Ingredients:
1/4 cup large sago balls - available in supermarkets
1 1/2 cups ice cubes or crushed ice
1/4 cup sugar
2 drops of food coloring
1/2 cup powdered milk
any fruit in  season or coffee/flavored tea
*the last 3 ingredients can be replaced with a pre-mix available in supermarkets.

Place all ingredients in a blender except the pearls and blend well. Place the pearls in a large empty cup and pour in the smoothie mix. Sip with a big straw.

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9. Frozen Yogurt
The craze is still on since it started in late 2000. Some price it according to the cup size and toppings and some by weight. New frozen yogurt resto-chains sprout around the metro every year, but a yogurt cart is rare. A yogurt booth would require a soft-serve machine, the same one used in soft ice cream, and pre-mix ingredients can be bought from suppliers (listed below). Getting a second-hand mixer machine at P15,000 can save you on cost but be sure you get the knowledge and support, too. With a bit of space, and some knowledge and skills, you can ride the fro-yo trend and cash in some bucks.

Yogurt machine equipment and pre-mix suppliers:

A. CLASS INTERNATIONAL TRADING CORP.
Lot-10 Blk-86 Katipunan Ave., Zenaida Subd. Concepcion I, Marikina City
998-2681; 347-4979; 571-9934

CT Concepts Enterprises
13 B. Santos St. Manotoc Subdivision,
Sto. Niño Marikina City
477-5017; 948-0596
http://www.ctconceptsent.com

IRIA Trading
Unit105 Chunics Bldg. #3368 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd. Sta Mesa
861-7598
iria.sales@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/IRIA-Trading

Judea Enterprises
Ground Floor, Lincoln Realty Bldg. 8361 Dr. A Santos Avenue corner Abbey St., Goodwill 3 Sucat, Paranaque City
825-5411; 710-1692
contactus@judeaenterprises.com
judeaenterprises@yahoo.com
http://www.judeaenterprises.com

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10. Iced Coffee
If you’ve ever attempted to make your own cup of machiatto at home, patterned after your favorite coffee brand, what should stop you from turning it into a business? With an electric blender, you can offer this summer drink at half the price that famous coffee shops offer theirs for. Coffee recipes are found in many internet sites. Here's a simple one you can try and modify according to your taste.

Mocha Frappé
2 cups of ice cubes
1 tall cup of extra strength coffee drink. Set aside to cool.
1/4 cup sweetened chocolate syrup
whipped cream
 
Mix the first 3 ingredients in a blender until smooth. Top with whipped cream.

Sources:
http://www.pinoybisnes.com
http://pinoyraket.blogspot.com
http://poor-boy-how-to.blogspot.com/
filipinofoodstore.com

Photo by slightly everything from flickr creative commons