AS they say, when one door closes, another one opens. In the world of entrepreneurship, a failure does not mean it is the end of the line.
Rene “RJ” Ledesma Jr., a Globe Telecom brand ambassador and founder of Mercato Centrale, stressed that failure can be the entrepreneur’s greatest teacher whenever he or she plans to pursue an objective.
Although he is a successful entrepreneur, the De La Salle Bachelor of Arts Economics graduate recalled he also experienced some setbacks in his life, particularly in pursuing a post-graduate degree in the United States. Ledesma admitted he spent a huge amount of money to go to Harvard for interview. In Harvard he had a 15-minute interview for the MBA program. Later, he received a letter from the admissions office that he did not make it to the program.
Despite the setback, Ledesma tried his luck at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This time, he passed the requirements and enrolled in the Masters of Science in Real Estate Development. He excelled in his studies and became the first Asian to deliver a graduation speech.
After graduation, Ledesma was optimistic in building his corporate career in the US. However, the terrorist attacks on September 9, 2001, changed his plans. “ I came home from the US after 9-11 because there were no opportunities for me there. I found out that there were more opportunities available in the country. You just need to find and identify the opportunities,” he said.
Nevertheless, Ledesma remained optimistic of starting a new career in his native land. “At that time, I believed God has a plan for me. And his plan for me will be bigger and better than whatever plan you have for yourself,” Ledesma pointed out.
Mercato Centrale
Then Mercato Centrale (Central Market) was born. Together with food blogger Anton Diaz and his wife Rachel, and Ledesma’s wife Vanessa, they put up one of the fastest-growing markets in the country, which was inspired by the markets discovered by the Ledesma couple during their honeymoon in Florence, Italy, “Vanessa and I thought it would be a great concept that can be implemented in the Philippines,” Ledesma said.
“Mercato has become a good incubator and food innovator that introduced several culinary concepts,” he said. Some of the innovators that have become prominent include Manang’s Chicken, Mochiko, Merry Moo, Spring by Ha-Yuan, Chuck’s Grubberie and Kristina’s Inutak, among others.
Mercato Centrale has expanded to 10 markets this year. This includes: Midnight Mercato, its flagship night food market in Bonifacio Global City; Mezza Norte in TriNoma, Quezon City; Cucina Andare, the first food- truck market in the Philippines, at Glorietta; El Sur in Alabang Town Center; Cocina Centrale in Ayala’s Marquee Mall, Pampanga; Porto Cena in Ayala’s Harbor Point Mall, Subic; Mercato de Oro in Ayala’s Centrio Mall, Cagayan de Oro; Levante in Eastwood Mall, Quezon City; Carnivale in Venice Piazza, McKinley Hill, Taguig; and Fiesta Bahia, the first food tourism market in the country, at SM Mall of Asia.
“We hope to expand and create new and unique versions of the market experience in the next few years,” he said.
Ledesma said Mercato Centrale is always searching for great new food entrepreneurs who can complement the variety of its food choices in
the market.
To achieve this, Ledesma said they launched such contests as The Next Big Food Entrepreneur, in which the winner gets P100,000 and a free six-month rental stay at a Mercato market; the Food Market Entrepreneur Trial Weekend, which they give food entrepreneurs a free weekend at a Mercato market; and other food-related events to discover new food vendors.