Hi all. A group of Filipinos who recently opened a Filipino food store, Philfoods UK, in Stoke-on-Trent/Newcastle-under-Lyme are doing really well and looking for the location for their second branch. It's possible that I (a British husband of a Filipina nurse) will be managing the new branch. As we live in Alton (well out to the East of Stoke), we though of Derby, especially if there is a large community of Filipinos working at the Royal Derby Hospital like there is at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire. Can anybody comment on the number of Filipinos in Derby? Or on a good location in Derby (City Centre, or perhaps Littleover area?). Or perhaps you would like to suggest another location entirely that might be worth considering? Maraming salamat. Ingat. Jon.
Hi Jon, welcome to the site Sorry but although I had family who lived near Derby for a while, I was not involved with the Philippines at that time and can't say I ever noticed, but it's a big city so one would imagine that there could be a strong Filipino community there, maybe some of the other lads and lassies on here might know more.
Hi Jon, welcome to the site.. Before you start laying money down I suggest you head to Derby first and check out the Catholic churches on a Sunday, plus the Asian food shops and see how much (if any) Filipino food they sell there! There will be some Filipino presence there, but going off of anecdotal evidence is not what you want to base a business from. I can only speak for Manchester, my home town. I see a lot of Filipino people shopping at a Chinese owned Asian food store in China Town. However, about 10 minutes walk away there is also the remains of a closed down business called "Cebu Cafe", so clearly someone tried and failed at creating a Pinoy style cafe (bad location I think - next to some sex shops). Anyway.. See who your competition will be and check out the churches and see how many Filipino people pop out and good luck.
Oh, we wouldn't consider a Filipino eatery - they still seem to be unsustainable anywhere in the UK at the moment. When it comes to buying groceries, however, in most cities Filipinos are paying over the odds for Filipino products from Indian or Chinese stores. Our store in Newcastle is undercutting the competition from a nearby Indian store that sells Filipino products by a significant margin, and turning a healthy profit. Thanks for the input. I guess the size of the Filipino contingent at Catholic churches is a reasonable indication of the size of the overall Filipino community, even though the majority aren't (actively practicing) Catholics. I guess I should look first at the size of the Filipino Catholic attendance in the area I know for comparison! I certainly haven't come up with a better measure of the size of different Filipino communities. The information local councils have is so out of date as to be completely valueless. I didn't discover the large Filipino community around the Longton area of Stoke-on-Trent until I went to a Filipino party at Longton Working Men's Club and found it full of hundreds of Filipinos we didn't know, though we know most of those who live in the rest of Stoke-on-Trent!
Visit the Asian shops and see how much produce they have that comes from the Philippines. If they have tons of San Migs, Magic Sarap and stuff, then you know there is a good enough sized population to get it off the ground. Also, get the word out there! And is your Newcastle shop listed in our food section? If not, get it in there, I often see people browsing through it.
There was a Sari Sari store in Liverpool and it was advertised on the net, we went to try to buy some stuff back in 2010 and found it shut down, ultimately got some Filipino products at Chung Wah Chinese supermarket in Liverpool but the range of products was very limited. So I think as Kuya says that checking out the churches and the Asian grocers would be a very good idea.
We live not far from Derby but I'm afraid I can't comment on the numbers of filipinos living in the area. With regards to food shopping we tend to go over to Leicester as there are a couple of Chinese, one indian and a small filipino store. The wife gets most of what she wants and the indian store does alot of the vegtables that she likes so she manages pretty well. But if you do end up opening a store then we'd definately come for a look see. Oh yes there is also a small store in Loughbrough that sells alot of SE Asia food stuffs. Its a while since we went to Derby but if its anything like alot of the other cities in the area then I'd say you won't have too much trouble finding a suitable shop to rent or buy. Due to the reccession I think there will be plenty of empty properties. As always its location, location, location. Sorry I can't be of more help.
Hi, and welcome aboard... Be prepared to do some leg work in giving out leaflets outside churches in the area, and post on the staff notice boards of the local hospitals and care homes... Curious people will travel to look and see, and if they like the joint, and what is on offer they will come back.
There is a Filipino Food shop on-osmaston-road derby near the derby royal infirmary is this your shop?
Its in osmoston road between the spot and the bradshaw -way. Sorry i cannot tell you the number cos i am in the Philippines
