| Ryan Razon |
Food for the gods and the masses Everyone loves food. As such, the biggest challenge perhaps for restaurants and eateries alike is to cut across the palate of all classes.In the quiet town of San Fernando in Pampanga, a by-the-road dining place has succeeded in this feat. A place of simple yet warm ambience, it is where one could chance upon Gretchen Barretto scooping a spoonful of perfectly mixed halo-halo in one table, then find chaps in sando and tsinelas feasting on generous palabok servings in their plates in another. This, according to the collective consciousness of Pinoys, is the home of the country’s finest halo-halo and palabok: Razon’s. “We actually started small in a subdivision in Guagua courtesy of my three lolas, two of which have already passed away,” narrated Ryan Razon, the 28 year-old manager of Razon’s, who as a kid was already involved as a waiter in their old store. “From its inception in 1940, people got to know about Razon’s through word of mouth and from then on, from the year-by-year expansion, it became an instant hit when it comes to food.” Razon’s is among the few renowned restaurants in the country which maintain a low-key reputation. Unlike big players in the food industry who are strong in promos and heavy in marketing and advertising strategies, Razon’s has simply stuck with its classic recipes to win the hearts—and stomachs—of its publics. Under Ryan’s supervision, with the help of his kin, most especially his mother, who gives him a hand in overseeing their branches in the malls, Razon’s has continued its unique way of attracting eaters and its legacy of delectable flavors. Testimonial to this, according to Ryan, is the increasing demand of their patrons for their products, which have now extended from the traditional meryenda staples to heavy hunger-solvers in the form of rice meals. “It’s basically my mom’s recipe now making wonders,” he said, pertaining to the newest additions in their menu. The AB-Behavioral Science graduate from the University of Santo Tomas added: “Surprisingly, there are even some customers who sacrifice dining in, especially from the 2 pm to 6pm stretch when our store is jampacked, just to enjoy our food. They stand elsewhere near the store or stay in their cars with their orders. “There are also friends asking me if Razon’s is already for franchising because they believe so much in the business. And it makes me feel humbled and blessed at the same time.” Ryan said that the family is now considering to finally make Razon’s a corporation so as to unify their products as well as their preparations. “Sometimes we experience customers commenting that the taste of such product here is different from that in another branch. I understand because it’s really a challenge unifying all our recipes to the original, which first appealed to many. The recipe is there, of course, sometimes though there are some minimal lapses in the way they are cooked,” he said. Ryan also disclosed the business’ plans of expansion in the south, starting in the South Luzon Expressway and Laguna. Currently, there are nearly 30 Razon’s branches scattered in different parts of the country. So how did Razon’s manage to cater to almost everyone? Ryan, a former HR staff in AMA Group of Companies, said: “You really have to value the right way of treating your customers. Besides serving them quality products, you should also practice quality people relations. How you entertain a dolled-up man should be the same way you deal with a dressed-down guy.” On October 8, for his efforts of keeping Razon’s, a Kapampangan trademark, tasteful, Ryan will be honored by Presidential Consultant for Entrepreneurship Jose Concepcion III as an Inspiring Pampanga Entrepreneur, an award given by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship as part of the Go Negosyo sa Pampanga slated at the Bren Guiao Convention Center in San Fernando. Go Negosyo sa Pampanga is part of PCE’s latest campaign, the Go Negosyo Caravan, which aims to bring Go Negosyo forums and expositions in key cities in the country. The Caravan has already visited Cebu, Bacolod, Baguio, and Manila. Go Negosyo sa Pampanga is presented by the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship in partnership with the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Major partners include PAGCOR, Globe, Hyundai, San Miguel Corporation, Splash Corporation, PLDT, Smart, RFM Corporation, Unilever, CILA, The Philippine Star, The Philippine Daily Inquirer, The Manila Bulletin, Sunstar Pampanga, GMA Network Inc., RPN9, NBN4, Aspac-Law and Creativoices Productions. |
