Mercato Centrale and Benilde Team Up to Support Young Food Entrepreneurs
Mercato Centrale and Benilde Team Up to Support Young Food Entrepreneurs
08 April 2025
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde has officially partnered with Mercato Centrale, a well-known incubator for food entrepreneurs, to create more opportunities for students looking to break into the culinary and food business industries.
The Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony took place at Vatel Restaurant at The Atrium@Benilde Campus, a training hub for students in the International Hospitality Management (BS-IHM) program under the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (SHRIM). BS-IHM students train in real-world hospitality settings through Vatel, gaining firsthand experience in restaurant management and operations.
Representing Benilde at the event were Benilde Chancellor Benhur Ong, SHRIM Dean Marie Paz Castro, DBA, and Bneilde Center for External Linkages Sherlo Reyes. Mercato Centrale CEO RJ Ledesma and President Vanessa Pastor Ledesma signed on behalf of Mercato Centrale.
“This partnership is more than just an agreement. It marks the start of a meaningful collaboration that connects education with industry,” said Chancellor Benhur Ong, emphasizing the importance of real-world exposure for students. He noted that this collaboration will allow them to gain hands-on experience, develop an entrepreneurial mindset, and apply their skills in practical business settings.
Ong described the partnership as an opportunity for students to engage directly with professionals, participate in mentorship programs, and work on business projects that prepare them for industry challenges. He highlighted that by working with Mercato Centrale, students can explore how food businesses are developed, marketed, and sustained, gaining insight into key aspects of business incubation.
Mercato Centrale has long served as a launchpad for small food businesses, providing emerging entrepreneurs a space to develop and scale their ventures. Through this partnership, students will gain direct access to internships, food business training, and professional networks, helping them refine their ideas and understand real-world market demands.
SHRIM’s programs, including International Hospitality Management (BS-IHM), Culinary Arts Management (BS-CAM), Hospitality and Luxury Management (BS-HLM), and Tourism Management (BSTM), all integrate business courses within their curriculum. These courses equip students with management skills and an entrepreneurial mindset, preparing them to explore business opportunities in hospitality, tourism, and food entrepreneurship.
Through this collaboration, students will have the opportunity to apply their expertise in real-world settings, gaining insight into business incubation, market dynamics, and consumer behavior, the key pillars of Mercato Centrale’s long-standing support for food entrepreneurs.
“This has been a long time coming,” said RJ Ledesma, acknowledging his longstanding ties with La Salle and his excitement about partnering with Benilde. “Many of the country’s top restaurateurs, chefs, and food entrepreneurs started here. Our goal is to help the next wave of Benildeans bring their ideas to life and turn their passion into sustainable businesses,” Ledesma added.
Ledesma emphasized Mercato Centrale’s commitment to mentorship and industry collaboration, sharing insights on the challenges faced by food entrepreneurs, particularly in sustaining and scaling their businesses. He mentioned the Mercato Food Academy as an example of Mercato Centrale’s initiatives to support business owners but did not specify it as part of the partnership.
Benilde has continuously fostered industry partnerships, ensuring students have practical exposure to global culinary and entrepreneurial standards. Just this March, BS-CAM completed another run of Nestlé Philippines’ YOCUTA program, an international initiative that trains young culinary talents through hands-on mentorship and real-world applications.
With this new collaboration, Benilde and Mercato Centrale aim to nurture talent, cultivate innovation, and build bridges between education and industry, preparing students for successful careers in hospitality, food, and entrepreneurship.
For more information on Benilde’s undergraduate programs, contact us at (63) 2 8230 5100 local 1801 or admissions@benilde.edu.ph. You may also visit our website at www.benilde.edu.ph.
