SLERS´ Pica-Pica opens 22nd Outlet in Metro Surigao Mall

From South to North and back again, Cagayan de Oro´s very own SLERS Industries, Inc. is growing its PiCA PiCA outlets slowly but surely in the Philippine´s urban centers and rural areas.

Barely a month ago, SLERS opened its 22nd PiCA PiCA outlet in the Metro Surigao Mall. Owned and managed by Raymond "Tata" Polinar and his wife Ma. China Pepito-Polinar, it was the fastest outlet yet to come online, barely a month after they applied for a franchise. Coming up next are outlets in SM Cebu and Lee Plaza in Dumaguete.

SLERS Industries, Inc. is a Cagayan de Oro based family-business started by Ofelia "Fely" Cosin-Pelaez 39 years ago in Del Monte, Bukidnon. Beginning with country style ham Ms. Pelaez made for plantation employees during Christmas, the home-based "cottage industry" has blossomed to encompass a full range of meat products including Pinoy staples tocino and longganisa, bacon and hotdog, and the famous SLERS Jamon de Cagayan de Oro.

SLERS took on a new tack in 2006 when the now famous SLERS Chicharon quickly became the company´s fastest moving and most famous product, leading the company to develop a pasalubong style kiosk now franchised as the SLERS PiCA PiCA.

The SLERS PiCA PiCA kiosk is focused on the SLERS Chicharon which is now available in two types (with or without pork fats) and which are each available as "hot" and "standard" versions. Besides the four types of Chicharon, the kiosk also carries SLERS Sukang Tuba which provides livelihood to rural families in El Salvador and other towns in Misamis Oriental, and SLERS Banana Fritters, which provide similar livelihood for a woman´s association in Barangay Lumbia in Cagayan de Oro.

The result of a design collaboration SLERS Managing Director Mercedes "Litlit" Pelaez-Mejia and Industrial Designer Clara Gonzales-Elizaga of Nazca Designs, it was recognized a Best Booth Design in the 2007 CITEM National Trade Fair.

SLERS was also recognized with the "Franchisor´s Touch" award during the Association of Filipino Franchisors, Inc. (AFFI) 2007 annual trade fair where it was recognized for its "personal touch" in explaining the franchise to interested visitors, with Litlit personally presenting the PiCA PiCA concept to interested franchisees.

The PiCA PiCA kiosks are now deployed to the company´s 22 franchisees in the cities of Manila, General Santos, Davao and Surigao, and SLERS company owned outlets in Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon and Iligan where they´ve become recognized as landmarks where one can get the famous SLERS Chicharon.