WHILE the Tinapayan Festival bakery has been around since 1982 (think of everything else that had happened in the 40 years since), the virus that had taken the world hostage in 2020 changed the game for its founder and General Manager Lucito Chavez.

“There were a lot of businesses, especially bakeries, that struggled to still exist and operate. We were forced to cut down our operations by 60%. Earlier than other establishments, we were the first to close our branches in the malls to secure our personnel from COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) infection. We suspended our delivery operations due to lack of manpower as our employees wanted to go home to their provinces and be with their families. Even our suppliers, wholesalers, and resellers had a hard time reaching us due to the lockdown and community quarantine measures during the strict lockdowns,” he said in an e-mail to BusinessWorld.

Before the pandemic the bakery had three branches — the main one in Sampaloc, Manila, one in Fisher Mall in Quezon City and another in Market! Market! in Taguig. The mall branches closed in 2020.

“We never knew that this pandemic was coming and that it would hit our economy this hard. Pre-pandemic, we already had plans set up for the company and we had to postpone most, if not all, in consideration of this pandemic,” he added.

Rolling into the third year of the pandemic, the bakery has plans. It is expanding again, reestablishing its roots in Batangas. “This expansion is an adventure. It is high time for us to explore the bakery business by going home to our roots in Cuenca, Batangas — which is known as the Home of the Bakers,” said Mr. Chavez who hails from that town.

They are hoping to resume delivery operations in the next few weeks.

CHALLENGING THE INDUSTRY
Tinapayan Festival’s product lines include breads that pioneered the use of agricultural products such as squash, potato, cassava, carrot, ube (purple yam), and sweet potato. According to a statement, their aim is to “place the Filipino baking industry at par with international brands.”

“The challenge in the Philippine baking industry is the call for continued research and development of products. We have to have the right mindset and inspiration to create products that are at par with the global market,” Mr. Chavez told BusinessWorld. “In achieving my goals for Tinapayan, I did not stop innovating my products until I was able to realize that the creation of our products is a testament of one of our values: excellence.

“A proper mindset must be inculcated to our fellow bakers in the industry. Dapat isaisip ng ating mga kasamahan sa industriya ang pagnenegosyo sa pagtitinapay habang isinasapuso ang pagtitinapay sa pagnenegosyo. (Our industry partners need to internalize business in baking; and baking in business.) We grow in both directions, in baking at the same time in doing business.”

SURVIVING THE PANDEMIC
What kept the bakery going during the pandemic? The fact that food is essential, basically. That, plus the need to help its employees. This was accomplished with help from the government and friends.

“We are in the food industry and food is essential. Ang tinapay sa pang-araw-araw at maging ang mga cakes and pastries sa mga celebrations ay laging bahagi ng hapag ng bawat pamilyang Pilipino. (Bread is for every day, and even cakes and pastries are always part of celebrations for Filipino families).

“We did not stop baking to give opportunities to our employees, despite our skeletal workforce, to retain their livelihood and to serve the community with baked products in the middle of the strict community quarantine,” said Mr. Chavez.

Government efforts and the private sector’s needs aided in their continued production.

“Another highlight is the Kadiwa Rolling Store, a project by the city government of Manila, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, to bring fresh produced products closer to the residents amid the community quarantine,” said Mr. Chavez. “We are also very thankful to the Philippine Association of Flour Millers, Inc. who contributed to our donations to frontliners in the early years of this pandemic,” he said.

“It was not important to us if we lost sales by closing our branches and suspending delivery operations while focusing only on our main branch,” said Mr. Chavez. “Our main priority is to take good care of our employees and assure them of a little livelihood as we ensure the community of continued supply of bread products.”

“Madaming nawalan ng trabaho dahil maraming nagsarang negosyo, walang mabilhan ng pagkain at gamot ang mga tao; ito ang ayaw namin maramdaman ng aming mga empleyado. May pagkain, may tirahan, may vitamins, may gamot at doktor, walang dapat ikatakot o ipangamba. (A lot of people lost their jobs because of businesses that have closed, and people then couldn’t buy food or medicine; this is what we don’t want our employees to feel. They have food, they have shelter, they have vitamins, doctors, and medicine; there is nothing to fear or worry about).”

Despite the challenges, Mr. Chavez finds some hope. “We see the pandemic as a rebirth. It is a great opportunity to restructure and to grow. It is a good time to teach and nurture people. Now that we are at what may be the lowest and most struggling point, our only option is to move forward and rise.”

Tinapayan Festival is located at 1650 Dapitan St. corner Don Quijote, Sampaloc, Manila. To place advanced orders, call 8732-2188, send an e-mail at sales@tinapayan@gmail.com. Tinapayan Festival products are also available via GrabFood and FoodPanda. —  Joseph L. Garcia

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR