Coca-Cola Philippines' iSTAR program powers family-owned carinderia's rise in Cebu

Coca-Cola Philippines continues to support Filipino micro-entrepreneurs through its entrepreneurship training programs, helping small businesses gain the right tools, knowledge, and confidence to grow and sustain their livelihoods.

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Among the inspiring stories is that of Juniel and Salome Lucero, a couple from Pinamungahan, Cebu, who turned a small food venture into a sustainable family enterprise. Their business journey-guided by passion, persistence, and the right training provided by the iSTAR (Innovative Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources) Program, a joint initiative of Coca-Cola Philippines and TESDA, where they gained essential skills in financial literacy, inventory management, and basic operations.

From online orders to a growing enterprise

Juniel, a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW), made a bold leap into the food business in hopes of turning his vision for success and Salome's love for cooking into a reliable source of income for their family. Together, the Luceros opened Nicolai's Cuisine in 2018.

When the pandemic hit, Juniel returned to the Philippines, and the couple found themselves seeking new ways to support their family. They changed their business approach and started selling packed lunches online, where they built a network of loyal customers. Today, Nicolai's Cuisine has expanded to three staff members, offers catering services, sells lechon belly packages, and even runs a small trading sideline for plastic and paper packaging. Their clients now come from different parts of Cebu, far beyond their barangay.

Training that turned challenges into opportunities

Their journey to success is not without its challenges. It was riddled with difficulties, especially during the first year of running Nicolai's Cuisine. Sales were unpredictable, their location had little foot traffic, and they lacked a system for managing operations.