Benitez named Entrepreneur of the Year

CEBU, Philippines — Cebuano coffee connoisseur Steve Benitez is this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year, an annual recognition for exemplary homegrown entrepreneurs given by Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

Known as the “Starbucks’ Challenger”, Benitez is the 14th Grand Chamber Awardee in the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ category.

He started his small coffee shop Bo’s Coffee in 1996 at the Ayala Center Cebu.

Today, the Bo’s Coffee brand is already an international coffee brand player with branches in Middle East and soon in other countries.

Benitez is also joined by other Grand Chamber awardees namely philanthropist Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung (MSY Foundation) for the socially responsible entrepreneur award; and Sylvia “Bunny” Ludo-Alcordo (Cafe George) for small business entrepreneur award.

The chamber also recognized Engr. Paul Revalde of FDR Group of Companies, as this year’s ‘Countryside Entrepreneur of the Year’; Melissa Ann Lim Young (Bubble Tea Station) as ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’.

Award of distinction was also given to Efren S. Uy (F2 Logistics Phils., Inc.); and Special Citation was awarded to Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-EMB-7) headed by director William Cunado, for introducing online system functions and platforms to facilitate an enabling environment in the operation of ECC operations, issuance, compliance and monitoring.

The CCCI Grand Chamber Awards Night, held last night at the Marco Polo Hotel Cebu, marked the culmination of the month-long Cebu Business Month (CBM 2019) with its theme “Innovation in Action.”