Pasig City, Philippines – 02 September 2024 – Mercato Centrale, the Philippines’ premier multi-awarded small food business incubator and an established outdoor food market, has renewed its lease with Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC). This renewal ensures the continued operation of the highly popular outdoor food market at Bridgetown Destination Estates, a mixed-use township and business park development located on the border of Pasig and Quezon City.
The renewed partnership underscores the synergy between Mercato Centrale and Bridgetown Estates. “The strong and steady foot traffic at Bridgetown makes it the perfect venue for launching new food concepts by our small food business entrepreneurs,” said RJ Ledesma, Chief Innovation Officer of Mercato Centrale. “Bridgetown is a family-oriented destination filled with fun outdoor activities like concerts, an obstacle course, a motorcycle riding academy, and FIFA-preferred turf football fields. My son loves playing football here, and he’s thrilled to join his friends for a meal at Mercato after their games,” RJ added.
Robinsons Land echoed this sentiment, highlighting the mutual benefits of the partnership. “Mercato adds another layer of excitement to Bridgetown, and we are proud to support their advocacy for small food business entrepreneurship,” said Loise Albert Montes, RLC Assistant Vice President.
Jubie Anne Villarte, Head of Leasing at RLC Integrated Developments Division, noted the ongoing collaboration and willingness to explore new initiatives. “It has been a fantastic partnership. Mercato has consistently been open to exploring new concepts and initiatives at Bridgetown,” added Jubie Anne Villarte, Head of Leasing at RLC Integrated Developments Division.
In addition to renewing its lease, Mercato Centrale announced new partnerships aimed at enhancing the food market’s offerings. A collaboration with Okane Kitchen, a company specializing in back-end kitchen operations for SMEs, will introduce new food concepts to Mercato Centrale’s lineup. “We share a common vision of supporting the growth of SMEs, and we’re excited to create exclusive food concepts for Mercato,” said Fritzvon Capulong, CEO of Okane Ventures Corporation.
Mercato Centrale has also partnered with Fly Ace Corporation, one of the country’s leading food and beverage companies and the exclusive distributor of Franzia Wines. This collaboration will bring the popular boxed wine experience to Mercato, offering visitors a unique pairing opportunity.“We want to show that Franzia Wines can be enjoyed with any type of food, and Mercato is the ideal environment for this. With its diverse range of offerings—from Japanese to Korean to Filipino regional and street foods—Mercato provides the perfect backdrop for showcasing the versatility of Franzia Wines,” said Philip Opiasa, Senior Business Development Manager at Fly Ace.
These developments reinforce Mercato Centrale’s position as a key player in the food entrepreneurship scene, offering a dynamic platform for SMEs to thrive and for consumers to indulge in a wide array of culinary delights.
