Food has always been the first to come to mind when one starts to think of going into business. Foremost, it will never run out of demand. As such, so many have tried their luck to partake in this kind of business.
Entrepreneurs Eduardo and Teresita Ngan Tian decided to go into the food business. She ventured into the pizza food business. And Lots’a Pizza was born 30 years ago.
But it was not an ordinary pizza. The Ngan Tian couple adopted the “quick-serve, take-out, for delivery” concept. Back then, such concept was still far from the minds of entrepreneurs and consumers.
In addition, Lots’ a Pizza adopted the practice of preparing/topping/ baking the pizza in front of customers “For them to observe our use of quality ingredients, fast and safe preparation.” To diners, this was a novel idea.
The concept evolved and has become adaptable and relevant to the new normal in this pandemic period.
“Lots’a Pizza is a quick- serve take-out pizza for thoughtful individuals to bond with their loved ones and to celebrate life’s mini milestones,” said Teresita.
Proven to be true to its slogan ‘Puno ng saya, Patok sa lasa’, the business continues to thrive over the years making it a household pizza brand despite the presence of the bigger foreign pizza brands.
The concept becomes more relevant during this pandemic. It has ensured that Lots’a Pizza’s stability and resilience. Without quoting figures, she said, they forecast a 2021 revenue surpassing the 2019 level or pre-pandemic conditions.
The food sector can never be saturated as it offers a wide array of opportunities. Pizza is just one of them. There cannot be an overcrowding in food concepts. Lots of new and innovative options abound offline and online because of the pandemic constraints and the deepening of digitalization in all aspects of business.
“Competition has never been this active as compared before. And this augurs well for the food industry for it to become a top grosser in our economy. People need and love to eat and so we only need to provide safe tasty and quality food if we want to become profitable in this industry,” she added.
The delivery and quick serve business model has become more intensified driven by the rise of value-conscious customers. Food entrepreneurs must also adopt digital technology to make operations faster, safer and more convenient.
Teresita has encouraged entrepreneurs to tap the social media. As people become more health conscious, Lots’ a Pizza is pioneering in addressing that need in their pizza offerings. There is also a need to watch out for innovative food products for the millennials.
Even with the pandemic and online food delivery concept, Teresita reminded entrepreneurs they still need to make their physical store appearance appealing.
With that the Ngan Tian couple cannot be left behind. “We will make Lots’a Pizza stay by providing our offerings of abundance, generosity, bonding and sharing and wholesome, celebration for the Pinoy.”
FULFILLMENT
For the Ngan Tian couple, Lots’ a Pizza has been a fulfilling venture as they shared the business to new entrepreneurs via franchising and also to accelerate its expansion program.
“We are able to create and provide value for money pizza that allows more customers to try and love pizza by providing the franchise model. We are able to develop new entrepreneurs in our franchisees who develop additional businesses,” said Teresita.
“With new franchise stores opening up we are able to provide additional employment and revenue for our government.”
The bonus part is that, “We are able to fulfill our business purpose of sharing, bonding, making little moments matter and celebrating life’s mini milestones.”
One lesson the couple has learned is focus, a trait they would like franchisees to uphold. “We maintained focus on our brand which we rightfully own,” she said.
Amid the pandemic, Teresita said they have to be conservative and pursue medium term goals. Foremost, the company has to sustain the business so they can continue providing employment and business to its franchisees .
“Lots’a Pizza shall continue to be the franchise of choice in the category where we are in,” she added. To support this goal, Teresita said they will continue to adopt more aggressively in terms of innovation of products, services, systems and digitalization to stay relevant and competitive.
Due to the economic situation and uncertainties we are in now it would be difficult to set up long term goals at the moment. Expansion may be limited within the country only two-store opening in a month.
As the business becomes well-entrenched, Teresista does not consider making fortunes their primary purpose but said that entrepreneurial spirit and the values of hard work, integrity, giving and sharing and mentoring have paved the way for financial rewards.
“The most rewarding part is being able to franchise our business and make others share our success plus of course the opportunity of providing livelihood to our employees, business to our suppliers and stakeholders. This is a realization of fulfilling the mission that the Lord has entrusted to us,” she concluded.