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.

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 Resource) Program, a joint initiative of Coca-Cola Philippines and TESDA, where they gained essential skills in financial literacy, inventory management, and basic operations.

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.

Mahina, matumal ‘yong business, ‘di mo masabi. Madaming losses. Hindi maganda ‘yong pwesto. Sa sobrang daming problema, [kaunti] na lang ‘yong dishes,” the couple said.

(Online sales are really strong. We live on a farm, so we used that (online channels) to reach more customers. When we started selling online, we thought ‘Why just now?’ But it’s not too late.)

With their improved business strategy, the Luceros grew their monthly income from ₱30,000 to ₱50,000, allowing them to provide better opportunities for their children. Their business is now registered with the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), giving them access to orders from local government units.

Their efforts also earned them recognition, receiving the Top One Most Impactful and Inspiring Award under the iSTAR: HERStories program—an iSTAR initiative that highlights inspiring entrepreneurs who applied their training to grow their businesses.

“[Kapag] willing kang matuto, libre naman [at] worth it naman. Grab the opportunities na darating sa’yo,” the Luceros said, encouraging others to have confidence and pursue their dreams of building a business.

(If you’re willing to learn, it’s free and it’s worth it. Grab the opportunities that will come your way.)

Juniel added that completing the courses on iSTAR provided a major boost in growing their business, “Ang kagandahan [dito ay] iSTAR na talaga ang lumapit sa pamamagitan ng LMPC. Kaya sobrang nagpapasalamat kami sa mga opportunity na ino-offer ng iSTAR dito sa amin.””

(The good thing here is that iSTAR approached us through LMPC. That’s why we are thankful for the opportunities that iSTAR continues to provide.)

iSTAR builds on the legacy of the STAR Program, which was launched in 2012 under Coca-Cola’s global 5by20 initiative and empowered around 250,000 MSMEs through business training and support. In 2020, the program evolved into iSTAR to continue equipping entrepreneurs with the skills and tools needed to start and grow their businesses in today’s digital economy. In 2024, it was further strengthened with the launch of Centers for Entrepreneurship (CFEs) in seven key areas, offering training, mentorship, and financial support to help small businesses thrive. To date, iSTAR has produced over 300,000 graduates.

For more information about the iSTAR Program, visit the Coca‑Cola Philippines Sustainability Hub at https://www.coca-cola.com/ph/en/brands/coca-cola/sustainability