Aspiring baker-entrepreneurs win big at URC Flourish Pilipinas competition

Universal Robina Corporation (URC) Flour Division recently awarded six aspiring entrepreneurs with bakery start-up packages in its baking business competition, Flourish Pilipinas 2022: The CEO Initiative.

The competition is part of URC’s efforts to support young Filipino bakers who dream of becoming future CEOs of their own baking businesses.

URC Flourish Pilipinas 2022: The CEO Initiative Manila leg (from left to right): Alaura Daele Pabandero (1st runner up), Ellison Dean C. Lee (Managing Director, URC Flour), Sandra Camille Montenegro (Grand Winner), Marilyn Grande Esguerra (R&D Chapter Lead Snackfoods, URC), Jeremy Garcia (2nd runner up), and Dennis J. Magallanes (Deputy Chief Financial Officer, URC Agro-Industrial and Commodity Foods Group)

Participants from the Manila and Davao leg of The CEO Initiative were immersed in a series of technical trainings and business lectures. These aimed to hone their potential and equip them with knowledge that can be useful as they start their venture.

Six finalists made it to the final phase where they presented their business plans to a panel of experienced entrepreneurs. In the end, Manila leg’s Sandra Camille Montenegro, with her “3 Cs” (Cookies & Cream and Corn Cookies), and Davao leg’s Ericka Mae Tuliao of Davao, with “Kaka Mangifera”, were declared the grand prize winners. They each took home a start-up online bakery package worth P200,000.

URC Flourish Pilipinas 2022: The CEO Initiative Davao leg (from left to right): Jhon Michael Sarabia (1st runner up), Ellison Dean C. Lee (Managing Director, URC Flour), Ericka Mae Tuliao (Grand Winner), Marilyn Grande Esguerra (R&D Chapter Lead Snackfoods, URC), John Kenneth Nogodulia (2nd runner up), and Dennis J. Magallanes (Deputy Chief Financial

The first and second runners-up were given start-up packages worth P100,000 and P50,000, respectively. All the winners received top-of-the-line baking equipment, high-quality ingredients and access to industry network.

The CEO Initiative is one of the many activities under “Flourish Pilipinas”, URC’s program that aims to support the baking industry of the country. Since its launch in 2017, URC has conducted several activities that promote bread and pastry baking as a viable form of livelihood for Filipinos.

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