This is what the original product looks like.


After immersing it in boiling water for five minutes (or after microwaving it for five to ten minutes while submerged in water), here's the end result.


Doesn't it look delicious? The tab? PHP45 (including rice)!

This sumptous afritada is one of the many menus of Pigout Food Corporation's Ready-to-Eat-in-5-Minutes Quick Meal Packs.

I first saw this business prospect from Anton Diaz's Our Awesome Planet, and I thought it has the making of a good business: the idea, although not entirely new, is clever, the vacuum-packed packaging is state-of-the-art, and (these, for me, are the big pluses!) it is hygienic and the retail prize of each item is very much affordable.

The idea, according to Chief Operating Officer Dr Sarah Carungcong-Uyguanco, was conceived by a group of food business entrepreneurs and health-conscious doctors with the desire to create a "lutong-bahay" menu that is clean and hygienic, affordable, easy to prepare, healthy and deliciously Pinoy.

The food packs can last up to six months and this was made possible even without preservatives because the home-cooked meals are vacuum-packed in heat-resistant plastic packages and stored frozen.

The products are available in 2 sizes: 100-gram packs (good for 1 serving) and 200-gram packs (good for 2-3 servings). A variety of 30 viands is currently available but more viands are being tested and will be coming out soon.

Retailer's price list

Whenever I eat out at a Filipino restaurant in Saudi, I spend an amount equivalent to PHP 150 (around SAR 12). A friend in Saudi who owns a small canteen in the Philippines said that they sell one viand for PHP 50 and rice for PHP 10.

If you check out Pigout's price list, I think you'll say that their rates are affordable.

Meals: Price per 100gm pack(good for 1), 200gm pack(good for 2-3)

BEEF MEALS
Beef Caldereta: Php 35.00, Php 65.00
Beef Pares: Php 31.00, Php 60.00
Beef Steak: Php 31.00, Php 60.00
Beef Strips in Oyster Sauce: Php 32.00, Php 62.00
Callos: Php 29.00, Php 54.00
Corned Beef Sinigang: Php 75.00 (200gm pack only)
Fresh Corned Beef: : Php 75.00 (200gm pack only)
Kare-Kare: Php 30.00, Php 58.00
Korean Beef Stew: Php 39.00, Php 77.00
Lengua in White Sauce: Php 38.00, Php 73.00
Lengua Sisig: Php 35.00, Php 65.00

CHICKEN MEALS
Chicken Curry: Php 26.00, Php 48.00
Chicken in Ginger and Onion Sauce: Php 30.00, Php 55.00

CHICKEN AND PORK MEALS
Chicken and Pork Adobo: Php 35.00, Php 63.00
Chicken and Pork Afritada: Php 29.00, Php 54.00

PORK MEALS
Binagoongan: Php 30.00, Php 52.00
Chinese Humba: Php 31.00, Php 55.00
Dinuguan: Php 25.00, Php 45.00
Minced Pork in Salted Egg Sauce: Php 29.00, Php 54.00
Pork Adobo: Php 30.00, Php 54.00
Pork Siomai in Chili-Garlic Sauce: Php 31.00, Php 61.00
Pork Steak: Php 30.00, Php 53.00
Sisig Adobo: Php 30.00, Php 55.00

VEGETABLE MEALS
Ampalaya with Tofu in Spicy Cocomilk Sauce: Php 28.00, Php 52.00
Gising-Gising: Php 28.00, Php 48.00
Pinakbet: Php 27.00, Php 50.00
Sautéed Sayote: Php 25.00, Php 49.00
String Beans Adobo: Php 26.00, Php 50.00
Vegetables with Fish in Coco-Tomato Sauce: Php 29.00, Php 54.00

RICE
Dinorado Steamed Rice (per cup): Php 10.00

Who can benefit from Pigout products?

If you're planning to put up a catering service or a small restaurant or perhaps a canteen near a school, you don't need to go through the hassle of waking up early morning to do your marketing or be in trouble if your cook fails to show up.

Dr Uyguanco said: "The company puts its focus on research and development of food products as well as efficient production to satisfactorily supply its dealers since it aims to work in synergy with them rather than compete with them."

"One of the visions of our company is to be able to help small-scale dealers and OFWs in terms of providing a business opportunity for them, which only requires minimal capital."

Interested? Here are Pigout's contact details

Pigout Corporation is more than willing to respond to your enquiries through any of their contact details:
email pigoutfoods@gmail.com
call +632-7211366
text +63-922.8998058

Pinoys as entrepreneurs

The quote I used for this post is from John Gokongwei Jr's speech during the 20th Ad Congress in November 2007. He said:

"But to be a truly great nation, we must also excel as entrepreneurs before the world. We must create Filipino brands for the global market place.

If we want to be philosophical, we can say that, with a world-class brand, we create pride for our nation. If we want to be practical, we can say that, with brands that succeed in the world, we create more jobs for our people, right here.

Then, we are able to take part in what’s really important—giving our people a big opportunity to raise their standards of living, giving them a real chance to improve their lives."

Here's the full text of the speech.