Whether you want to open a brick-and-mortar restaurant or sell food online, there are many opportunities for a small business owner like you to find success in the food industry.
Online food delivery alone is booming, with Filipinos ordering once or twice a week even though restrictions were lifted due to convenience. So, if you are looking to get into the food business, now is a great time.
Ready to enter the world of food entrepreneurship? If yes, then here are 13 of the most profitable and best business ideas in the Philippine food industry for 2022.
Let’s get started!
1. Coffee Shop (Café)
You can never go wrong with a coffee shop. It is an excellent option for getting into the food business because most Filipinos drink coffee.
For those who are not a fan of drinking coffee, you can offer a variety of hot and cold drinks such as herbal tea, milk tea, and smoothies. You can even serve snacks, breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
You can make your café unique by giving it a theme based on your interests or what will be a hit with your target market. Deliver personalized service – getting to know your customers and adding that personal touch.
2. Home-Cooked Meals
Many Filipinos want to choose healthier alternatives over fast food, but eating healthy could get expensive in some cases.
Without a doubt, there is a high demand for budget-friendly healthier food items. So why not offer healthy home-cooked meals and cater to health-conscious Filipinos tight on time and budget?
Here are some benefits to starting a home-cooked meal business:
- You can start with a low investment and use the equipments you already have at home.
- You can cook at home and sell online, saving money on rent and other overhead costs.
- You can offer various food items, from popular street food to upscale meal plans.
3. Food Truck or Food Cart
Do you have a passion for cooking but don’t want to be stuck inside a kitchen? Then starting a food kiosk, food cart, or food truck business might be for you.
The potential for having a kitchen on wheels is endless:
- You can experiment with the location and time – taking your business where your potential customers are.
- You can offer catering, join food bazaars, or serve meals to office workers.
- You can even start small and use your bicycle to sell snacks in your small town.
4. Bakery or Cake Shop
Starting a bakery or cake shop is a fun and creative business, ideal for those who love to make beautiful and delicious baked goods and take their hobbies to the next level.
There is always a demand for fresh bread, cakes, and cookies. Or you can specialize in selling baked goods to those with dietary restrictions, such as keto, vegan, sugar-free, or gluten-free.
You can start with an online store and eventually have your physical store. Or you can choose to have it entirely online while occasionally setting up a pop-up store in food bazaars during peak seasons.
5. Pop-Up Restaurant
Not yet ready to commit to a brick-and-mortar location? Start a pop-up restaurant!
A pop-up restaurant is a good idea if you are looking for a cost-effective way to test your concept and see if it has great business potential. You can experiment with different menus, price points, and target markets.
Plus, you have the freedom to move around and find the best spot for your business. You can set up shop at food festivals or other events. Or, if you have the space, you can even host it at your home.
6. Private Chef
If you’re a talented chef who doesn’t want to be tied down to a commercial kitchen, you can start your own private chef business. You can cater for intimate gatherings, be a retainer personal chef for long-term clients, or host cooking classes at your chosen schedule.
To stand out as a private chef, you need to:
- Be comfortable interacting with different kinds of people and personalities.
- Master your craft and be updated on different dietary needs.
- Learn new recipes and experiment with different cooking styles.
7. Food Blog
Do you love to write about food and share your culinary adventures? Then having a food blog and monetizing it might be the career for you!
What are the benefits of starting a food blog?
- You can monetize your blog through advertising, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing.
- Expand your skills in content writing, food photography, graphic design, digital marketing, and web design.
- Build an audience and following. Nowadays, brands invest significant money in influencer marketing.
8. Food Vlog
Not into writing but enjoy talking in front of the camera? Then food vlogging could be for you!
With social video platforms, such as YouTube, TikTok, and Kumu, you can start sharing recipes, cooking tips, and food videos with your subscribers.
How can you stand out and get discovered as the next food vlog superstar?
- Be authentic and show your unique personality. You can get inspiration from other food bloggers but do not outright imitate or copy them.
- Identify your niche and target market. What type of content do you want to be known for, and who do you think will be interested in this type of content?
- Deliver pro-quality audio and visuals. Invest in good production equipment, including lighting, to capture clear and crisp audio and visuals.
9. Filipino Kakanin Business
Looking to start a profitable food business with low investment? Then selling kakanin (Filipino sweet delicacies) is a great option!
You can spend less than a thousand when buying ingredients and earn more than 50% of what you spend – while still selling it at a reasonable price.
From putting your unique twist on traditional kakanins to using collectible eco-friendly packages, continuously innovating your kakanin business will be your key to success.
10. Low-Carb Food Business
The demand for low-carb foods is growing as people are becoming more health-conscious.
People are looking for healthier options, such as rice substitutes and alternatives for sweets that are low in calories.
If you can offer a healthier alternative that fits your potential customers’ budget, that’s a good way of making money while advocating good health!
11. Food Delivery Service
With the demand for food convenience rising post-COVID, the online food delivery service will have 16.6 million users by 2026.
Food delivery services, like GrabFood and Foodpanda, are increasing in popularity – and a lot of small food delivery businesses keep on emerging.
There are three critical things you need to consider when starting your own food delivery business:
- Hiring, training, and managing delivery riders because they can make or break the reputation of your business.
- Restaurants you want to partner with, including the type of food they serve and location.
- Using a system, app, or software that can make your business operation safe and seamless.
12. Organic Food Business
People are becoming more aware of what they eat. While it is more expensive, some people are willing to pay extra money for organic food over cheaper but chemically-treated alternatives because of its health benefits.
There are several options that you can choose from when starting an organic food business:
- Sell organic raw produce direct to consumers.
- Be a supplier to other businesses, like restaurants or grocery stores.
- Specialize in selling food that uses organic ingredients.
13. Catering
Do you love events and making people happy with your food? Then starting a catering business might be for you!
From small intimate parties to large gatherings, you can unleash your creativity in planning and cooking different menus. You can even expand your services to a full-service event management and catering business!
In catering, fantastic food, exceptional service, and a good relationship with your clients help turn your clients into loyal customers and refer you to their network.
Further reading:
Final Word
These are just a few of the many profitable food business ideas in the Philippines for 2022. There are still many ideas to consider and explore – just look at what’s hot and trending in your neighborhood.
Be the next big thing in the Philippine food industry:
- Choose the best profitable business idea and business model for you.
- Create your business plan and identify what you need to turn your food business idea into a reality.
- Get your small business started right away, the right way!
Prosperna, Your Partner to Online Business Success
Bring your small business idea to reality and create a profitable business with Prosperna.
Prosperna is a simple all-in-one eCommerce platform for Philippine MSMEs.
We are super passionate about helping small business owners like you start your online business right away, the right way – we’re giving you a free account forever!
Want to start selling online? Create your free-forever account now!
