Niña’s Food and Beverages
NC SM City Cabanatuan
“Kailangan ng matibay na determinasyon, sipag at tiyaga sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Huwag na huwag agad susuko kung may pagsubok man na kinakaharap. Laging maging handa at dapat may alternatibong paraan sa bawat pagbabago ng sitwasyon,” advises Ms. Antonina Roldan, owner of Niña’s Food and Beverages, to aspiring entrepreneurs.
In 1986, Antonina learned the art of making salabat tea and peanut butter by participating in a livelihood training organized by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Drawing from this knowledge, she and her husband began producing these products, which soon became popular within their community. In 2005, with her husband’s support, Antonina decided to level up their small business venture.
They expanded their offerings by incorporating other elements such as calamansi, honey, and moringa into their ginger tea, enhancing its flavor and health benefits. Additionally, they introduced new products like yema and tamarind candy to further diversify their offerings and cater to different tastes.
Turmeric tea became popular and increased in demand thus they also increased their production in 2017. They distributed some of their products to sari-sari stores and public markets in towns on a consignment basis. On top of their existing products, Antonina introduced new products like peanut butter with malungay, tamarind candy with malungay, and dulce de leche (yema). This expansion allowed their business to stand out and thrive within the community.
On March 13, 2018, Antonina attended a meeting held at Dambana, Mabini Homesite, upon the invitation of her friend, a member of the organization “Inang Kusinera ng Dambana,” an Extension Program of CMBT-NEUST.
In March 2018, Antonina was invited by a friend to join a meeting of the “Inang Kusinera nf Dambana”, a beneficiary organization of the extension programs of the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology. During the meeting, the DTI, led by Provincial Director Brigida Pili, discussed the various DTI programs and services available to enhance the development of existing products. Impressed by the opportunities presented, Antonina wasted no time in seeking assistance from Business Counselor Ronavel Aquino of the DTI Negosyo Center at SM City Cabanatuan. November of the same year, she officially registered her business, naming it “Nina’s Food and Beverages,” with its base in Barangay Tagpos, Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija.
The NC facilitated the creation of new product labels through Trade Industry Development Analyst (TIDA) Janyne Luna and established a Facebook Page to bolster online product promotion. Additionally, products gained exposure at NC SM City for marketing support.
Antonina is a proactive entrepreneur in terms of availing programs and services of DTI. BC Rona also endorsed her to Trade Industry Development Specialist (TIDS) Allan Canaveral of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) for further assistance being one of the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARB).
On March 11, 2020, Niña’s Food and Beverages was awarded the newly designed label of 8-in-1 turmeric at the DTI-Negosyo Center Provincial office. During the pandemic, monthly sales fell by 50% to P 5,000. Antonina adapted by offering groceries to families in their barangay, boosting weekly sales to P 10,000 with a P 2,000 profit. While turmeric remained popular, other products were available through orders. To responded to growing demands, Antonina established a physical store along the highway of Barangay Tagpos, Santa Rosa.
BC Rona also assisted Antonina in obtaining a P 20,000 grant through the P3 Bayanihan CARES program from Small Business Corporation in August 2020, increasing her capital for inventory replenishment. Further she was also included in the 2021 One Town One Product (OTOP) program, receiving newly designed labels at the BIDA MSMEs Trade Fair in March 2021. Nina’s Food and Beverages actively participated in various trade fairs across Nueva Ecija from previous years, Women’s Month and BIDA MSMEs (2021); Women’s Month (2022); and OTOP featuring BIDA MSMEs, OK NE! and Kadiwa ng Pangulo (2023) to name it.
Ms. Roldan quoted, “Taos puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa DTI at Negosyo Center sa walang sawang suporta at paggabay sa katulad kong maliit na nagnenegosyo. Maraming salamat po sa buong DTI at pagpalaain nawa kayo ng Maykapal nang sagayon mas marami pa po kayo matulungan.”
MSME Information
Business Name: Nina’s Food and Beverages
Owner: Ms. Antonina Roldan
Address: Barangay Tagpos, Sta. Rosa, Nueva Ecija Email Address: antoninaroldan88@gmail.com
Contact Number: 09559858590/09104277196
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/Ninasfoodandbeverages ♦
Date of release: 11 June 2024
