ESPA-Fil Import & Export
ESPA-Fil Import & Export
Pacholo Garcia-Morera grew up unloading containers at midnight for P100 and never really left the family business.
Origin Story / Overview
Can you briefly introduce your business?
I belong to the 2nd generation of the business which my father started in 1987. We specialize in importing European food products and supply supermarkets, hotels and restaurants nationwide.
What inspired you to start this venture, and how did your family influence that journey?
The business started purely by chance. My moms friend married a Spaniard who owned what was then Spain's largest manufacturer of canned fruits and vegetables. They spent their honeymoon in the Philippines and when the husband met my dad, a fellow Spaniard, he asked if my dad wanted to import his products to the Philippines. As my dad grew the business over the years, the influence on me piled up. As a kid, I was curious to see large container trucks filled with boxes being unloaded to the warehouse. My dad even offered me P100 if I helped unload the containers. I could only carry 1 box at a time and we did the unloading from around 11pm-4am but I felt like a grown man being among the workers and getting paid so it was more of an exciting experience for me. As a teen, my love for food and cooking was more from my mom. Traveling widened my palette and my mom would always try to replicate at home what we ate abroad. When I started dating, I eventually tried replicating what I ate in fine dining restaurants so that I didn’t have to go back and pay for them. By then, it was a no-brainer that working for the business of food was where I wanted to be.
What is this business really about, and what problem or need does it aim to address?
It’s really about having a wider variety of food products available in the Philippine market. Before, you either had to struggle to find and pay for top imported products or to settle for mainstream products from the multinationals selling the same products no matter where you shopped. Thankfully, the personal problem I had of having a lack of choices was also the problem of a lot of other people. And that’s why we continue to grow to this day.
What do you hope family members will learn or take away from your entrepreneurial story?
Opportunities are created, not found. Rather than magically dropping on your lap in one go, opportunities come in little incomplete bits and pieces that need to be stitched together.
Lessons & Advice
What is one lesson business has taught you that you wish you knew earlier?Sometimes, it’s better to ask for forgiveness than for permission when trying out new ideas. Just make sure you have a backup plan just in case things don’t turn out as expected.
What principle, habit, or mindset has helped you succeed, and why?
“I don’t want to be Nokia” mindset (google their story). When our business first started, we had family friends with businesses that have been around much longer than us and were also much bigger. But over time, we outgrew most of them because they were content to stay where they were. Our family has the mindset of “working for the next generation” which means that as the family continues to grow, we need to make sure the business grows more.
What advice would you give a family member who wants to start or grow their own business?
You don’t always need to have a perfectly thought out business plan to create a good business. Consistency is key to everything. It’s what keeps you organized, level headed and stable. In a world where instant success and fast expansion are the norm, the majority of the largest companies in the world still came from a "slowly but surely” approach. Also practice financial discipline. You can enjoy the fruits of your labor but always remember to reinvest back into the business more than what you take home from it.
How can our family best support your business moving forward?
Keep cooking and keep eating with our products and help spread the word!
Image Gallery (click to zoom)
Speed Round
What is one part of your daily routine?
Setting meetings with myself to do research.
What is one challenge you’ve had to overcome?
Transitioning of 1st gen to 2nd gen.
What is one small win you’re proud of?
Expansion to products from other countries.
Image Gallery (click to zoom)
Origin Story / Overview
Can you briefly introduce your business?
I belong to the 2nd generation of the business which my father started in 1987. We specialize in importing European food products and supply supermarkets, hotels and restaurants nationwide.
What inspired you to start this venture, and how did your family influence that journey?
The business started purely by chance. My moms friend married a Spaniard who owned what was then Spain's largest manufacturer of canned fruits and vegetables. They spent their honeymoon in the Philippines and when the husband met my dad, a fellow Spaniard, he asked if my dad wanted to import his products to the Philippines. As my dad grew the business over the years, the influence on me piled up. As a kid, I was curious to see large container trucks filled with boxes being unloaded to the warehouse. My dad even offered me P100 if I helped unload the containers. I could only carry 1 box at a time and we did the unloading from around 11pm-4am but I felt like a grown man being among the workers and getting paid so it was more of an exciting experience for me. As a teen, my love for food and cooking was more from my mom. Traveling widened my palette and my mom would always try to replicate at home what we ate abroad. When I started dating, I eventually tried replicating what I ate in fine dining restaurants so that I didn’t have to go back and pay for them. By then, it was a no-brainer that working for the business of food was where I wanted to be.
What is this business really about, and what problem or need does it aim to address?
It’s really about having a wider variety of food products available in the Philippine market. Before, you either had to struggle to find and pay for top imported products or to settle for mainstream products from the multinationals selling the same products no matter where you shopped. Thankfully, the personal problem I had of having a lack of choices was also the problem of a lot of other people. And that’s why we continue to grow to this day.
What do you hope family members will learn or take away from your entrepreneurial story?
Opportunities are created, not found. Rather than magically dropping on your lap in one go, opportunities come in little incomplete bits and pieces that need to be stitched together.
Speed Round
What is one part of your daily routine?
Setting meetings with myself to do research.
What is one challenge you’ve had to overcome?
Transitioning of 1st gen to 2nd gen.
What is one small win you’re proud of?
Expansion to products from other countries.
Lessons & Advice
What is one lesson business has taught you that you wish you knew earlier?Sometimes, it’s better to ask for forgiveness than for permission when trying out new ideas. Just make sure you have a backup plan just in case things don’t turn out as expected.
What principle, habit, or mindset has helped you succeed, and why?
“I don’t want to be Nokia” mindset (google their story). When our business first started, we had family friends with businesses that have been around much longer than us and were also much bigger. But over time, we outgrew most of them because they were content to stay where they were. Our family has the mindset of “working for the next generation” which means that as the family continues to grow, we need to make sure the business grows more.
What advice would you give a family member who wants to start or grow their own business?
You don’t always need to have a perfectly thought out business plan to create a good business. Consistency is key to everything. It’s what keeps you organized, level headed and stable. In a world where instant success and fast expansion are the norm, the majority of the largest companies in the world still came from a "slowly but surely” approach. Also practice financial discipline. You can enjoy the fruits of your labor but always remember to reinvest back into the business more than what you take home from it.
How can our family best support your business moving forward?
Keep cooking and keep eating with our products and help spread the word!
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