From Homemade Juice to a Growing Healthy Food Business

What began as a mother’s attempt to give her children a healthier drink eventually became a growing food business supplying products to consumers nationwide.

Rhodora Angeles, 57, of Barangay Mabacan, Calauan, Laguna, had spent years selling fruits at a stall in the busy town center of Calamba while putting her three children through school.

Her business journey took a different direction when she noticed her 10-year-old daughter regularly drinking processed fruit-flavored beverages after school.

Concerned about her daughter’s consumption, Rhodora decided to make a healthier alternative at home.

Drawing from her childhood experience of drinking turmeric when she was sick, she extracted turmeric juice and combined it with malunggay from their backyard. She added calamansi juice to balance the flavor.

Her children liked the drink.

She eventually named it Trio Juice, after its three main ingredients: malunggay, turmeric and calamansi.

Rhodora began selling the homemade drink through their church community, neighborhood and fruit stall in Calamba. What started in simple 350-milliliter and one-liter bottles with basic paper labels eventually grew into DoRenies Food and Beverage Trading.

To expand the venture, Rhodora used her personal savings and obtained a microbusiness loan from CARD Bank Inc., a microfinance-oriented rural bank.

Expanding the product line

In 2015, Rhodora developed a natural rice coffee as another healthy morning beverage, adding it to her product lineup.

Although the products did not initially generate massive sales, Rhodora noticed that the items she displayed would consistently sell out.

That encouraged her to explore the potential of healthy food products further.

After coming home from selling, she spent her afternoons studying herbal foods and developing her business. As demand gradually increased, she began hiring workers to assist with juice and coffee production.

In 2019, a representative from Mga Likha ni Inay (MLNI) discovered her products.

Seeing potential in the products, MLNI connected Rhodora with CARD-Business Development Service Foundation Inc. (CARD-BDSFI), which helped her formalize her business operations.

MLNI also helped improve DoRenies’ production processes and packaging and eventually became one of the business’ primary marketing partners, distributing its products nationwide.

Surviving the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic, however, brought a major setback.

While DoRenies initially managed to continue operating, prolonged lockdowns made it increasingly difficult to obtain raw materials. Inventory stopped moving, while household expenses continued to consume their remaining resources.

The business eventually reached a point where the family was heavily in debt.

“Nung time na ‘yun, parang gusto na naming huminto kasi wala na talaga, tapos ang daming utang,” Rhodora recalled.

Recognizing her financial discipline, her account officer helped her explore ways to rebuild.

Rhodora eventually transitioned from CARD Bank to CARD SME Bank, where she secured a ₱150,000 loan that provided much-needed working capital for the business.

With renewed capital, DoRenies began rebuilding its operations.

As MLNI continued marketing the products, demand increased. To keep up, Rhodora decided to modernize the business and invest in equipment.

She later secured a ₱1-million loan from CARD Leasing and Finance Corporation (CARD LFC) to purchase manufacturing equipment and machines.

From a homegrown product to nationwide distribution

Today, DoRenies Food and Beverage Trading employs 11 permanent workers, along with additional seasonal workers.

Its product line has also grown beyond Trio Juice to include Calamansi Concentrate, Ginger Tea, Fruit Detox Teas and Turmeric Powder, which are distributed nationwide through Mga Likha ni Inay.

For Rhodora, the support helped the business reach markets that would have been difficult for her to access on her own.

“Hindi naman namin kayang i-market ang product namin nang ganun kabilis at ganun kadami,” she said.

As the business expanded, Rhodora also adopted digital tools to manage finances and improve operational efficiency.

In 2023, her use of digital solutions earned her a Digital Financial Inclusion Award from the Microfinance Council of the Philippines (MCPI) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

A family business built around purpose

Rhodora’s entrepreneurial journey also allowed her to fulfill one of her original goals as a mother.

All three of her children have now completed their education and are professionals in different fields.

Her youngest daughter, now 27, works alongside her, handling financial and compliance matters while Rhodora focuses on production and maintaining the quality of their products.

For Rhodora, however, the business is not simply about earning money.

She believes entrepreneurs should consider how their products can benefit the people who consume them.

“Yung gusto mo (para sa sarili mo) ay gawin mo rin sa kapwa mo,” she said.

She also encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to think about their customers when developing products.

“Kung magfo-formulate ka, isipin mo rin yung makakatulong sa consumer at yung mga taong magte-take ng produkto mo,” Rhodora said.

For her, profit should come after creating something useful and worthwhile.

“Bilang negosyante, ‘wag mo lang isipin yung pera. Dahil darating naman ‘yan, kasunod ng magandang produkto mong gagawin.”

Today, every batch of natural juices, teas and other products brings Rhodora back to where her journey began: a mother in her kitchen, creating a healthier drink for her children.

What started as a simple homemade recipe has since become a livelihood for a growing team and a business built around the belief that a good product can also serve a greater purpose.