Juniel and Salome Lucero of Nicolai’s Cuisine transformed their home-based food business into a thriving family enterprise with the help of Coca-Cola’s iSTAR Program.
Cebu, Philippines — Coca-Cola Philippines is empowering Filipino micro-entrepreneurs through its iSTAR (Innovative Sari-Sari Store Training and Access to Resources) Program, giving small business owners the skills, knowledge, and confidence to grow their ventures and build sustainable livelihoods.
One inspiring story is that of Juniel and Salome Lucero, a couple from Pinamungahan, Cebu, who transformed their humble food stall into a thriving family enterprise thanks to the training and mentorship they received from the iSTAR Program, implemented in partnership with TESDA.
From packed lunches to a thriving food business
After years of working overseas, Juniel decided to return home and build a business with Salome, whose love for cooking sparked the creation of Nicolai’s Cuisine in 2018. At first, sales were unpredictable, foot traffic was sparse, and operations were disorganized. When the pandemic struck, they pivoted online—selling packed lunches to neighbors and nearby offices.
What began as a survival move quickly became their breakthrough. Their customer base grew beyond their barangay, and Nicolai’s Cuisine soon expanded to offer lechon belly packages, catering services, and even a small packaging-trading sideline. The couple now employs three staff and serves clients from across Cebu.
The Luceros introduced creative promotions such as raffles for lechon belly, free delivery services, and new menu items such as kakanin and merienda bilao orders to boost customer engagement and sales.
Turning struggles into success through iSTAR
The Luceros credit their turnaround to the skills they learned from the STAR Program, the precursor to iSTAR, which equipped them with basics in financial literacy, inventory control, and business operations.
They deepened their knowledge in 2024 by joining the digital iSTAR Program via Lamac Multi-Purpose Cooperative (LMPC), learning how to do product costing, embrace digital payments, run online marketing campaigns, and engage customers. They quickly applied these by creating online group chats with nearby schools and cooperatives to take orders and process payments.
“Napakalakas ng benta ng online talaga. Nasa bukid kami, so ginamit ‘yon (online channels) to reach more customers,” they shared. “Nung nasimulan namin ‘yong online, napaisip kami, ‘Bakit ngayon lang?’ Pero hindi pa huli ang lahat.”
With their new strategy, the Luceros grew their monthly income from ₱30,000 to ₱50,000 and registered with the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS), opening opportunities to serve government clients. They also received the Top One Most Impactful and Inspiring Award under the iSTAR: HERStories initiative, which honors women-led enterprises that successfully applied iSTAR training.
Building confidence and community
The couple hopes their story inspires other small business owners to keep learning and stay determined.
“[Kapag] willing kang matuto, libre naman [at] worth it naman. Grab the opportunities na darating sa’yo,” they said.
Juniel added, “Ang kagandahan [dito ay] iSTAR na talaga ang lumapit sa pamamagitan ng LMPC. Kaya sobrang nagpapasalamat kami sa mga opportunity na ino-offer ng iSTAR dito sa amin.”
Empowering more Filipino entrepreneurs
Launched in 2012 under Coca-Cola’s global 5by20 initiative as the STAR Program, iSTAR has evolved to meet the needs of today’s digital economy. Since 2020, it has trained more than 300,000 entrepreneurs, with the support of newly established Centers for Entrepreneurship in seven key areas offering mentorship, training, and financial support.
By equipping Filipino micro-entrepreneurs with tools, networks, and the right mindset, Coca-Cola Philippines’ iSTAR Program continues to help small business owners like the Luceros build lasting livelihoods—and brighter futures for their families.
For more information about the iSTAR Program, visit the Coca-Cola Philippines Sustainability Hub at https://www.coca-cola.com/ph/en/brands/coca-cola/sustainability.
