“KAINdustriya” is a segment under Puregold’s flagship membership program -Tindahan ni Aling Puring. Since its creation in 2012, promoting “KAIN”, “KITA”, and “KABUHAYAN” to small- and medium-sized “entrepinoys” has been one of its goals.
This year catering to the young and thriving market, “KAINdustriya 2018” held the 2nd year of KAIN U: An interschool Food Business Competition that features promising food ideas and food business concepts of college students.
Last 11 September 2018, the elimination round of the competition was held at Puregold QI Central, Quezon City. Various colleges around Metro Manila, including Our Lady of Fatima University-College of Hospitality and Institutional Management (OLFU-CHIM), specifically the Valenzuela and Quezon City Campuses, presented their business proposals aspiring to be one of the five finalists to battle it out in the Grand Showdown on September 18-19, 2018 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.
The idea of Team Quezon City was to capitalize on the local Longganisa and give it a more nutritious approach. The students came up with a unique selling point; the utilization of kalabasa bun and the inclusion of vegetables in their product. They dubbed their business as TAGS also known as ‘Take Away Gourmet Sausages’.
Team Valenzuela’s concept was a Filipino-Japanese fusion; innovating sushi and giving it a more ‘Pinoy’ touch. Instead of using the store-bought Japanese Nori, they made their own ‘Kamori’ (kamote-nori) by utilizing the abundant local crop: kamote tops. They were able to create four (4) unique fusions namely, Champoishi (Champorado), Daimaki (Daing na Bangus), Shidobo (Chicken Adobo) and Tamaki (Beef Tapa). They named their business ITADAKIMEAL which received the special award for Best Presentation.
Both OLFU-CHIM teams were able to make it to the Grand Showdown together with other schools namely the University of Caloocan City (UCC), Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina (PLMar).
During the Grand Showdown, the five (5) finalists were given booths in the Puregold KAINindistriya 2018 fair; venues where they were meant to “actualize” their business concepts. Thus, they sold the products they presented during the elimination round. The competition featured esteemed judges from the industry: Euclid S. Cezar, President and Founder of Innovention Food Resources Inc. (Famous Belgian Waffle); Ivy Zharisse Piedad, Senior Marketing Manager of Puregold Price Club Inc., and Sherilyn Reyes-Tan, Actress/Blogger.
The OLFU-CHIM Valenzuela Team was hailed as the Grand Winner. It also received the Best Concept and Best Presenter award, followed by UCC and PLM who won the 1st and 2nd runner up respectively.
