Foodie Clubhouse: Where Do the Food Entrepreneurs Hang Out Online?

 Image by  Vinson Tan ( 楊 祖 武 ) from Pixabay

So last week, I wrote about the different challenges entrepreneurs in the food service industry face and what things they should consider so they can thrive through this pandemic. Then it hit me. The business needs and human needs of their owners are connected. Yes, COVID forced us into social distancing, but no entrepreneur works in isolation. No man is an island. Support networks exist in this sector of the economy and at the very least, I wanted to find out, especially for the new food entrepreneurs, where they all hang out online. To my buddies in the industry, hope this post helps you find the others and the communities to network with so you can weather this storm more smoothly! Or at the very least may you find your peeps to have real good conversations with.

My Personal Favorite

Let’s start with one of the more famous ones: Let’s Eat Pare! For years, this group has been one of my personal favorite places to get a pulse on how the industry is doing. This group has a diversified group of foodies, entrepreneurs, chefs, suppliers like me, and all the other members of the food industry ecosystem.  With around 211,000 members, this community was so successful that it spun off other food-related communities as well. BONUS: If you want to crave for home-cooked munchies, check out, What’s your ulam pare?

Need Help?

For starters and veterans of the food industry alike, a helpful insight from other business owners can be a very useful tool to guide you. Be it for crowdsourcing of ideas to make your business grow, searching for supplies or even looking for qualified personnel, I suggest you check out Philippine Restaurateurs & Hoteliers Group. They have about 54,000 members comprised mostly of business owners and suppliers. They started around February 2017 and their community keeps growing. You can ask questions and suggestions and I think if you’re an aspiring restaurateur, this is a good place to start collecting insights and inspirations for your dream business. Don’t forget to check out Restaurant Owners Group - Philippines. They have 8,000 members that you can ask for advice and insights. Check them out and who knows? Maybe you’d get yourself a mentor or potential business partner.

Or is it Supplies?

If you are looking for supplies, meat products or other items not solely related to restaurants, please look up Philippine Business Groups Buy&Sales. Consisting of around 220,000 members, this group surely have a lot of items to offer from ingredients, products, decors, even designers to hire for your bar or resto. Don’t leave out Philippine Resto/ Canteen/Carinderia Supplier group. Here you can find a variety of supplies such us baking tools, meat products, seafood, spices, and utensils. With around 14,000 members, this group contains most commonly needed supplies for your food business. We hope these groups can help you keep your pantries well supplied.

Spruce Up The Menu?

Do you think your menu needs a boost? Try out a new recipe or opt for a made-to-order dish. Search for Simple Recipe for Business. Having around 230,000 members, this group specializes in new baking recipes, suggesting new dishes, and some members are also selling delicacies and great dishes to add and spice up your customers’ options. Keep patrons coming and surprise them with something new!

Need More Hands?

Don’t know who to hire or what to look for in a crew member? Though this is not an online community, they are definitely worth the visit since they are so specialized in the Hospitality and Service Industry in the Philippines. Please check out ServeHappy Jobs. It’s an online job marketplace where employers and applicants can be matched. Everybody happy!

Let’s Get Clicking!

These groups are a tap away so click on and check them out. It may be hard to handle business especially during these challenging times but knowing that you can perform your usual tasks online is a huge advantage. Keep yourself steady, earned experience is an edge that will propel you in your future endeavors.

P.S

On our end, we really hope this helps, We are not affiliated nor do we receive anything from the communities or sites we mentioned here. We just thought this would be useful to you, our dear reader. I will keep trying to make relevant content for you. You’ve got a million other concerns to think about but if you are in need of packaging and kitchen supplies, you can check out our Lazada store. Stay safe! God bless!