Ever had a craving that just wouldn’t go away? That’s exactly what happened to Victor Antonio Nola Jr. One day, he was walking through Chinatown, enjoying his favorite pickled mangoes from a little corner store, when they suddenly disappeared. No pickled mangoes, no replacement. Just empty shelves.
Instead of giving up, Victor got curious. “Why not make my own?” he thought. With zero experience in food processing (he’s a mechanical engineer, by the way), Victor rolled up his sleeves, hit Google, and learned everything he could about food safety and preservation.
What started as a DIY project to satisfy his own cravings turned into something way bigger—a business that now exports pickled mangoes to countries all over the world.
Starting Small: From Kitchen Experiments to a Backyard Factory
Victor’s journey didn’t start with a shiny factory or a big budget. It started in his kitchen with some mangoes, sugar, salt, and a lot of trial and error.
“I started experimenting with different recipes and techniques,” Victor recalls. Eventually, he nailed the perfect balance—sweet, salty, tangy—and decided to test the waters by selling his pickled mangoes to friends and family.
Fast forward a bit, and he transformed a tiny 20-square-meter space in his backyard into a mini production facility. “I was doing everything,” he says. “I bought the mangoes, processed them, and even delivered them myself.”
And the work paid off. Demand grew so much that he had to expand his space multiple times until he finally built a 1,000-square-meter factory in Tarlac City.
What Makes Pick-a-Pickle Special?
Victor’s brand, Pik-a-Pikel, has become a fan favorite, and it’s easy to see why. He’s super strict about quality.
- The Mangoes: Only carabao mangoes are used, harvested at just the right ripeness (105–108 days old). Each one is hand-inspected, and anything too soft or overripe gets rejected.
- The Process: Everything is done with care, from peeling to pickling, to make sure the final product is top-notch.
“No shortcuts,” Victor says. “We want our pickles to stand out, whether they’re sold locally or in another country.”
From Local Hit to Global Star
Today, Pik-a-Pikel is no longer just a local delicacy. It’s shipped to the US, Canada, Singapore, the Middle East, and even Australia.
And Victor’s not stopping there. He’s already working on new products like pickled pomelo and pickled garlic. There’s even talk of pickled grapes—yup, you read that right!
Helping Farmers and Growing a Team
Victor’s success isn’t just about pickled mangoes—it’s about creating business opportunities. He partners directly with mango farmers, especially in Northern Luzon, to get fresh produce at fair market prices.
“This isn’t just a business,” he says. “It’s about building relationships and helping everyone win—farmers, workers, and customers.”
Speaking of workers, Victor’s team has grown from a one-man show to over 40 employees, with plans to hire even more as the business expands.
Victor’s Tips for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Starting a business isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, and Victor keeps it real about the challenges. Here’s his advice for anyone dreaming of starting their own thing:
- Start Small: “You don’t need a big budget to start. Focus on what you can do today and grow from there.”
- Be Open to Feedback: “Friends and family can be your harshest critics, but their advice is often the most helpful.”
- Stay True to Your Word: “In business, your word is everything. If you make a deal, honor it—even if there’s no contract.”
- Keep Learning: “I didn’t know anything about food processing when I started, but I read articles, watched videos, and learned as I went.”
- Don’t Give Up: “Entrepreneurship can be lonely and tough, but if you keep going, it’s worth it.”
Your Craving Could Be Your Big Break
Victor’s journey proves that even the smallest idea—like a craving for pickled mangoes—can lead to something amazing. From experimenting in his kitchen to exporting products worldwide, he’s living proof that persistence and passion can take you far.
If you’ve got a dream, why not go for it?
Want to get involved?
- Farmers: Have fresh mangoes or other produce? Victor’s looking for suppliers!
- Job Seekers: Join the Pik-a-Pikel team in Tarlac.
- Shopee, Lazada, Facebook
Victor’s story started with a craving. What will yours start with?
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