GRAB every opportunity!
When Jhon Robert Dela Fuente thought about putting up a booth or a restaurant business that would sell scallops, he didn’t have any idea how to start.
A year later, he got a chance. Without second thoughts, he grabbed the opportunity.
Now, Dela Fuente, just 26 years old, already owns and manages the business he dreamed of.
It’s called Seabu, from Seafood and Cebu.
Now two years old, Seabu has four booths located at Sugbo Mercado in IT Park, Sugbo Mercado in Lapu-Lapu, The Market by Sugbo in Mandaue, and YelloCube Food Hub in Lahug.
Their best sellers are crablets dipped in chili crab sauce, and cheesy scallops.
Dela Fuente personally creates the menu at Seabu. He said that the internet helped him a lot. He graduated as a Marketing Student at the University of San Carlos, but after a year in the food business, he decided to study culinary so he can create more dishes and introduce them to his fellow Cebuanos.
After all, this is the reason why he started the business.
Dela Fuente first got the idea from their family business. He said that the influence of his family’s seafood export and distribution business really helped him come up with the idea.
Dela Fuente admitted, though, that he still has a lot to learn. From how to handle his employees, to putting up more branches, and gaining more customers.
So when GRAB —the transport company that offers ride services, ride sharing and food delivery— started to help local food businesses in Cebu, Dela Fuente was delighted as this helped him improve expand his market.
“GRAB has helped us grow our sales, through their delivery and getting spotted online through their app. And it’s hassle free, since our customers don’t have to drive through traffic. It is already delivered right at their doorstep,” Dela Fuente said.
Dela Fuente also emphasized that with the help of Grab, the local food adventure in Cebu is starting to get recognized not just in Cebu, but also around the country.
“People from other places in the Philippines already know what to look for when they come to Cebu with the help of GRAB,” he said.
Dela Fuente also said that he used to work for money, but now he is focusing on his character and attitude.
“My employees can testify to that because they are happy, and when they are happy, they bring more positivity to Seabu,” he said.
Grab aims to support Cebuano small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) through Grab’s NakakaLOKAL Festival that features GrabFood’s local food brands and will run for the whole month in the Grab phone application and all fridays and saturdays of August at The Market by Sugbo. With the NakakaLOKAL Festival, they are aiming to help more local businesses in Cebu like Seabu.
