Couple Joel and Kat became huge fans of K-dramas during the implementation of lockdowns in 2020. Little did they know, this would be the key to starting their own business.
“Nag-start ‘yung The Crunch during pandemic time talaga and during this time kasi, nasa bahay lang tayong lahat. Wala talagang kinikita and nags-struggle financially. Since nasa bahay lang talaga, nahilig kami manuod ng mga Korean drama,” Joel told The Philippine STAR.
“So nakita namin sa mga pinapanood naming usong-uso pala sa Korea ang mga boneless fried chicken. So naisip namin, “Boneless fried chicken. Parang puwede ‘yang gawin sa Pilipinas ah,” he added.
The couple then decided to experiement different flavors for their boneless chicken in September 2020.
“No’ng August, do’n talaga namin na-conceptualize ‘yung The Crunch. Pero ‘yung one-month time na ‘yon, everyday talaga. Everyday, sobrang excited kami sa mangyayari tsaka sa plano namin. So talagang everyday, nagme-meeting kaming magp-partners,” Joel said.
“One solid month ‘yon. Talagang puyat everyday. Research, luto nang luto. So ’yung one month na ‘yon parang katumbas na rin siya ng ilang months dahil sa efforts na binigay namin sa isang buwan na ‘yon,” he added.
The couple became hands on from crafting the perfect recipe to creating the look of their products.
“Nagluluto tapos nagfo-formulate kami ng mga sauces namin. Tapos kumukuha lang kami ng mga chicken kung saan-saan that time eh para makapagluto lang kami,” Kat recalled.
Joel and Kat admitted that just like other business owners, they hesitated on establishing their first business together due to the ongoing health crisis.
“Andaming nalulugi, andaming nagsasara and parang hindi praktikal magtayo ng negosyo. So despite na gano’n na dini-discourage kami ng mga tao sa paligid namin, we still took the risk para mag-start ng business.Ang pandemic time, struggle siya. Pero at the same time, naging opportunity siya for us para maging creative sa pag-iisip ng negosyo,” he noted.
The couple also admitted that they didn’t have any experience in cooking but they were determined to launch a food business.
“Wala kaming background sa pagluluto.Pero ang background namin is mga business-minded talaga kami. Ang hilig namin is kumain. Ayon. Kaya fried chicken, personal favorite talaga namin siya,” Joel stressed.
The couple admitted that they struggled during the first few weeks since they opened their first physical branch in Las Piñas City in 2020.
“That time, pumapasok ‘yung mga feedback na, ‘‘Di masarap ‘yung chicken niyo,’ ‘Ang mahal ng chicken niyo.’ May times na nasasayangan kami ng chicken kasi ‘yon nga, hindi mabili kasi nagpapakilala palang so struggle talaga,” Kat shared.
“No’ng start namin talaga, sa iba kasi kapag new business, sinusuportahan sila eh. Like nacu-curious ‘yung mga tao. Sa amin kabaligtaran. So no’ng start namin, nag-struggle talaga kami. First time kaming pumasok sa ganitong klaseng business na nagluluto. So hindi namin na-realize na ganito pala siya kahirap,” Joel echoed.
After a few months of improving their recipe, they finally received positive feedback from their customers!
“Bad feedbacks, nasisiraan kami ng chicken, hindi namin nabebenta lahat ng naluluto namin for the day. Pero ‘yon during these months, eto na ‘yung naging reason kung bakit nag-improve din kami little by little,” he said.
In 2022, they now have more than 70 branches nationwide and currently earn six figures per month.
The young couple stressed the importance of believing in the potential of one’s business.
“Naging mabilis ‘yung growth namin siguro nga dahil hindi kami sumuko. And at the same time, napasarap talaga namin ‘yung produkto,” Joel said.
“Sabi nga sa quote na laging sinasabi ng brother ko, “Hindi mo kailangan maging magaling para magsimula. Kailangan mong magsimula para gumaling ka,” he added.
