Push Admin

Fragrance mogul Joel Cruz diversifies into food and beverage business

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Screengrab from YouTube" src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/11/16/20211116-joel-cruz-business.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Screengrab from YouTube</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA -- Fragrance mogul Joel Cruz has diversified into the food and beverage business as he adapts to the new normal caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>Cruz, known as the country&#x27;s &quot;Lord of Scents,&quot; hopes to expand Takoyatea, a takoyaki and milk tea store, through franchising.</p><p>In an interview shown on the vlog of &quot;TV Patrol&quot; anchor Karen Davila, he said the business was started by his sister-in-law and niece in their garage.</p><p>&quot;Nag-start lang sila diyan sa garahe. From 1-6 p.m. they were selling and nakaka-P15,000 sila. Sabi ko, five hours lang P15,000 na... magandang negosyo &#x27;yan lalo ngayong pandemic,&quot; he recalled.</p><p>&quot;So sabi ko, if they will allow me to join them, papasok ako na ipapa-franchise ko,&quot; he added.</p><p>Cruz said Takoyatea is also his way of providing jobs to those who have been affected by the pandemic.</p><p>He admitted that his original business, perfume brand Aficionado, has also been hit by store closures.</p><p>&quot;With Aficionado, may stores din kami na nag-close during the pandemic. Siguro around 50 stores,&quot; he said. &quot;So ang ginawa ko, nag-open ako ng isang business na swak sa pandemic, which is food and beverages.&quot; </p><p>&quot;Alam mo kasi maraming nawalan ng trabaho during the pandemic. Dito ako pumasok na mabigyan ulit sila ng trabaho &#x27;yung mga tao,&quot; he added.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YB2yy8o_ol8?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>In the vlog, Cruz also shared his life as a single father to eight children, who were all born through surrogacy.</p><p>As revealed in a previous interview, he spent over P50 million for all the procedures, treatments, and incidental costs.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/life/06/23/21/joel-cruz-umabot-sa-halos-p52-milyon-ang-ginastos-para-sa-surrogacy-ng-8-anak">Joel Cruz umabot sa halos P52 milyon ang ginastos para sa surrogacy ng 8 anak</a></li></ul><p>When asked if his children are beginning to ask about their mother, Cruz replied: &quot;Nagtatanong na sila... but I&#x27;m telling them also na their mom, she has a family, she has a daughter.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I have to be honest,&quot; he stressed. &quot;Ako, definitely wala akong itatago sa kanila. Sasabihin ko lahat kasi alam mo naman, lahat naman ng lihim nabubunyag din.&quot;</p><div><strong>Related video:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1831704" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

The country's 'Lord of Scents' hopes to expand Takoyatea, a takoyaki and milk tea store, through franchising.