Biz Buzz:
Red Mango

The fro-yo craze was no fad thanks to Red Mango.

By now, you’ve probably enjoyed a cool twirl of the delicious yogurt that is Red Mango. Known as the pioneer of all-natural frozen yogurt or fro-yo, Red Mango has given dessert lovers the pleasure of enjoying a treat without compromising their diet. Red Mango offers a revitalizing premium yogurt topped with fresh fruits and many other topping choices. The result? A delectable confection that is addicting in so many ways!

Fro-yo is a healthier alternative to ice cream since it is all-natural, non-fat, and gluten-free. Thinking that more people are now becoming health-conscious, this is a guilt-free dessert a health-buff can satisfyingly indulge in.

This yogurt madness has expanded its reach to US, Singapore, and Bangkok. Now, Filipinos can enjoy it as much as they do; thanks to Sherika Tanmantiong, with her business partner Kelvin Gaisano, who brought Red Mango into the Philippines all the way from Korea. We spoke to the young entrepreneurs about their successful venture.

The Brand: Sherika decided to introduce Red Mango in the Philippine market to meet the demands of health-conscious consumers. “It’s the taste that I don’t think other brands have,” Sherika proudly replies when asked about the main character that makes her yogurt stand out. “It is a good brand. Hindi nakakasawa.”

Franchise Hit: Sherika’s sister Krystle, a student in New York, was the one who tipped her off about the frozen yogurt trend in the city and how Red Mango was all the rage. At that time, Sherika’s partner, Kelvin Gaisano, was looking for a business to franchise. He then contacted the mother company in Korea and inquired about the franchise program. The rest is history; Red Mango is now invading the Philippine food industry.


Big Idea: Sherika may be a new player in the food business, but listening to her grand vision for Red Mango, you will quickly realize that she has what it takes to play in the major league. “I want it to be the ‘Starbucks’ of the frozen yogurt [in the Philippines],” says Sherika. She did not only introduce the refreshing tangy taste to the Filipino dessert market, but also brought in the chic and cozy environment of the yogurt parlor. She wants Red Mango to be a relaxing hangout place for customers who want to “treat themselves well.”

  

Big Moment: “It was when I met the founder [of Red Mango] in Korea. I learned a lot from him,” recalls Sherika. She was inspired by the founder’s passion for the brand.


Setbacks & Lessons: For Sherika, entering the business world entails making sacrifices, especially in terms of time and money. But the hard work pays off when she sees her customers happy and when the brand is doing well. Her food business has also made her realize many things. Securing location can be challenging. Sherika points out that “things don’t always happen the way you want it but it doesn’t mean that it is not good. It ends up [as] better option pa pala. You just need to be persevering and patient.”

Future Plans: Red Mango Philippines is 11 months old and is still continuing and expanding. “We’re planning to open out our fifth branch by January in SM Mall of Asia,” says Sherika. She is also hoping to secure more locations by next year.

Golden Rule: Sherika takes the risk of revolutionizing the dessert industry with the idea that delicious food can also be nutritious. She describes business as “very competitive.” It is a world where “you have to be on your toes, always trying to innovate. The important thing is to stay one step ahead.” Being a young food entrepreneur, Sherika has learned that in business, there is no age requirement. What is key is passion and experience. “Being young is good in a way,” Sherika exclaims.

Red Mango outlets are at Trinoma Mall, Eastwood Mall, Greenbelt 3, and SM Megamall.


RED MANGO MADNESS!

Win a gift certificate from Red Mango simply by logging on to the Yummy facebook account and answering the question posted under the Red Mango Madness Promo. Hurry, you only have until Monday (January 18) to join. The best answer wins and gets to enjoy P250 worth of delectable Red Mango items. Yum!

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