Baked from The Heart: Banapple’s sweet success story | Lifestyle.INQ

OCTOBER 27, 2022

Turning one’s passion into a successful business is a lot like baking a cake. You prepare the ingredients, mix everything together precisely, and bake it with all your heart. This couldn’t be any more true for husband and wife entrepreneur team – GJ and Maricel Jimenez, proud founders of Banapple Pies and Cheesecakes.

Straight from the Oven
Banapple got its name from their two best sellers Banoffee Pie, and Apple Caramel Crumble. It all began as a simple hobby. Maricel, who is a certified whiz in baking, would bake apple pies and serve it for family gatherings and friendly get-togethers.

Not long after their friends went gaga over their sumptuous pies, the couple started tapping coffee shops and restaurants where they could integrate their products in the menu. Using GJ’s honed skills in marketing and products management, the couple managed to capture several industrial clients including well-known establishments, all served from a home-based kitchen located in Quezon city.

The defining moment was when they got featured in the show Magandang Umaga Bayan in 2006 by Tita Winnie. After that, the couple received a deluge of orders and inquiries, triggering them to finally take the leap and put up their first branch along Katipunan Avenue in 2007. After their second store opened in 2008 along Tomas Morato in Il Terrazzo, they began expanding their reach by opening a store or two each year.

From pies and pastries, the menu now includes pastas, salads, sandwiches, and hot entrees – fulfilling anyone’s cravings with each bite. Now with Banapple’s 10th anniversary, your friendly bakery café has now over 16 branches across the Philippines with three more stores in the neighborhood expected to be opened by the end of the year – one in Ayala Cloverleaf, another one in Cebu I.T. Park and one more at the Tutuban Main Station.

What’s Next Banapple?
“2017 has been our biggest year so far and in the next 5 years, we’re targeting to open a hundred stores nationwide with branches going as far as Iloilo, Davao, Bacolod and Ilocos,” said Maricel.

“For 2018, we’re also opening the business for franchising opportunities. We’ll take every measure to ensure that the consistency of the taste of each of our products are maintained throughout all our franchisees,” said GJ.

A Winning Recipe for Every Entrepreneur
With many food entrepreneurs springing left and right, Maricel and GJ leaves a few advices for the aspiring ones. “Everyone has a passion – photography, writing, or whatever. If you’re passionate in something, it always translates that you’re excellent in that. Nothing beats hard work and perseverance. Always remember to never give up and do what’s necessary to make it happen,” GJ shared.

To know more information, you can visit www.banapplekitchen.com or call (02) 438 2675 / (0937) 375 7575‬ offering a completely hassle-free experience with options of paying through Credit Card, Debit Card, and Prepaid Card powered by MasterCard and Visa processed through secure and trusted gateways in partnership with PesoPay a product suite of AsiaPay.

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