Auckland Pinoys, Business, New Zealand, Overseas Filipino, Philippine, Pinoy, Pinoy culture, Wellington, Wellington Pinoys, Westfield Queensgate, Work

our kabayan shines in NZ via sushi

Noel Bautista

09/06/2013

sushi family — Kabayan Edith (extreme left) with some of her St Pierres Sushi Queensgate family : (from left) Nena Pelayo, Bree Qin, Romy Loverez and Hazel Lomboy.

[ Thanks very much to the Kabayan (formerly Pinoy Stop) magazine family for allowing me to post a story we wrote, between my original submission and the improved edited version, I have Meia Lopez to thank for the latter! Should you have time for other awesome stories about Wellington Pinoys, please visit the 2nd issue of Kabayan by clicking this link; belated happy birthdays to Marivic Ching-Chua (6th June) and Stephanie Chan-Lam (9th June)! ]

ST PIERRE’S Sushi or SPS is one of the most visible fast food brands in New Zealand today. The company’s yellow, red, and black logo is a familiar sight in most malls, in many population centres, topping nearly 50 wholesale and retail stores in the country. Managed with a keen sense of customer satisfaction, clever costing and personal touch, SPS is inside out, a true Kiwi success story.

In its desire to give back some of the success it has reaped to its loyal work force, the company has partnered with carefully selected career employees who have given their talent, time and energy towards company growth. The latest St Pierre’s Sushi “lifer” has been Westfield Queensgate manager, Ms Editas Salita who has been here (in Wellington) for nearly two decades. She almost declined to be interviewed, saying in a rather modest way that the achievement was nothing to crow about. Edith (as she is know to her kabayan) is only the fifth employee and first Pinoy to be chosen to be a partner, particularly noteworthy since the company, completely family owned, does not issue franchises in conducting its business. The brand is an overachiever in every market area it has performed in, and in its own robust way has helped contribute to the recovering NZ economy. What has our kababayan Edith done to be chosen as partner to one of NZ’s business powerhouses? We had to pry it out of her, but the four major criteria before one is considered is, in no particular order : the passion and commitment a candidate has shown to the job over the years; sales results by the branch, as the candidate is usually a branch manager; the teamwork such manager has fostered; and the career growth enjoyed by the staff handled by the candidate.

Momentarily forgetting her innate modesty, Edith admits that she and her team have done well in the four major areas, at the same time realizing that growth never stops.

Dahil sa mga tinuro ng may-ari, araw-araw pa rin naming sinisikap na mapa-improve ang product quality and customer service was the succint way Edith summed up her mission statement.

The mission and the vision, as they say, must have had an enduring impact on Edith and the rest of her family. Anticipating the buzz of business that the partnership agreement will bring about, loyal husband Ric, who has enjoyed a career in telecoms both here and the Philippines, will be ready to lend a hand and boost moral to his wife’s budding enterprise. And at one time or another, children Tristan, Therish and Tim have been around to train and push the bestselling products of their mom’s sushi. For after all, who else can a Pinoy depend on in business if not her family first?

Mabuhay kabayan Edith, congratulations on your milestone, and may your business prosper!