Filipino food entrepreneurs cite Sun Life partnership in growing brands

Two Filipino women entrepreneurs behind well-known local food brands highlighted how financial planning and risk protection have helped sustain and grow their businesses, as they shared their experiences partnering with Sun Life.

Chef Czarina Sevilla, founder of Avocadoria, said the brand was born from a simple idea of elevating a familiar local ingredient into a healthier, proudly Filipino product.

“We wanted to turn something familiar into something healthier, more meaningful, and proudly local,” Sevilla said.

Avocadoria quickly gained popularity for its avocado-based offerings, but Sevilla said rapid expansion also posed challenges, particularly in maintaining quality while scaling operations.

“Our biggest challenge was scaling while maintaining quality,” she said. “But we addressed this by strengthening our systems, training people well, and planning ahead especially in managing costs and risks.”

As the business grew, Sevilla said protecting the company’s operations, employees, and long-term plans became a priority, leading her to engage Sun Life for business protection and financial planning.

“Knowing we had proper coverage from Sun Life gave us the confidence to expand and invest in growth because risks were already planned for,” she said.

Avocadoria now operates multiple branches locally and abroad, with Sevilla saying financial preparedness has allowed her to focus on further expansion and customer experience.

Meanwhile, Wendy Villanueva, owner of Wilmar’s Taho, said her goal was to preserve and strengthen a family business established in 1990.

The business faced its biggest test during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting Villanueva to adapt its operations.

“I decided to sell taho online so that the business could continue and reach more customers,” she said.

Villanueva said navigating local government regulations and ensuring vendors were classified as essential workers was challenging, but support from her family helped the business transition into a digitally accessible brand.

For Villanueva, partnering with Sun Life also created opportunities to expand the brand’s reach.

“Being a Sun Life Client gave me opportunities like being invited to sell at the One Sun Life Congress,” she said. “It helped promote Wilmar’s Taho and build our brand’s credibility. This was our second time to serve Sun Lifers, and it’s always a pleasure to be a part of this community.”

With her personal and business finances secured, Villanueva said she can now focus on sustaining the business for the next generation.

Sun Life said the experiences of the two entrepreneurs underscore the importance of securing financial protection while businesses are growing, allowing owners to plan for expansion while mitigating unexpected risks.