In conversation with our community partner, Melchor Galeon

How did you come to start FV Foods?

“I founded FV Foods  in Toronto 21 years ago. I’d come from the Philippines in 1998 for the Mabuhayfestival and was representing my province of Quezon. I brought products to showcase at the festival. And I saw that there were a lot of people eager for our Filipino products.  

So, seeing the opportunity, I decided to stay and pursue my dream of having a food business here in Canada. My wife, Flora Vinjola, really helped and guided me. That’s why FV Foods is named after her - FV stands for Flora Vinjola .

We weren’t really planning to have a big business. The plan was just to cook and distribute to a few customers. There were no plans at that point to open a restaurant.

I just cooked in my apartment and would distribute to Filipino stores. I cooked authentic Filipino sweet desserts, like ube halaya, sapin-sapin, and puto. Then I started making cakes like custard cakes and mamon, as well as bread like ensaymada.

Flora helped. In fact, initially she was our delivery driver. It became hard to cook in our small apartment. So we looked for a small kitchen and in 2000 registered a commercial kitchen.

The business grew and grew and after 5 years we moved to a bigger location, where we still are now. We started with a 2,000-square-foot kitchen and now we’re at an 8,000-square-foot factory in Scarborough.

Then, after 8 years because I saw there was a real market for Filipino food, we opened our restaurant. So, now we have the restaurant, as well as our wholesale business.”

Now you’ve settled in Canada, how do you feel about the Philippines?

“I know a lot of Filipinos who are always ‘looking back home’. For them Canada is a second home and the Philippines is still their main home. That’s because many of them have family back there.

But I feel really happy to be Canadian. This is my first home now and the Philippines is definitely still my second home - though it’s always in my thoughts, as are my family there.

My mother lives in the Philippines, but I don't think she’d be happy moving to Canada at 86. So, I support her from here - sending money every month, for medication and her carers - everything she needs.

I also have a sister and brothers over there. I send them money with WorldRemit occasionally for special occasions like holidays and birthdays. But I send to my mother every month to support her day-to-day life. So yes, we never forget the Philippines.

As a businessman and as a community leader, I’ve been involved in fundraising and sending money to the needy in the Philippines. That’s been especially important during the pandemic.”

Can you tell us a bit about your partnership with WorldRemit?

`’We’ve been working with WorldRemit since the beginning really. I’ve been with the brand ever since they started promoting themselves to the Filipino community.

We run promotions for them in our store where there’s a lot of traffic. I usually do the promotion - even TikTok! I did TikToks because of the pandemic and everyone seems to be watching TikToks  right now. We also use Facebook and Instagram. That’s how we help WordRemit to distribute their news and offers to the Filipino community here.”

You’re also involved in community work?

“Yes. Last year on my birthday I started FV Cares - a foundation connected to FV Foods.  Its aim is to help new migrants in Canada and to feed the homeless by supporting food banks.

The main work we want to do is to feed the hungry in the Toronto area. During the pandemic FV Foods also donated food to frontline workers - things like free meals and snacks particularly to hospital and nursing home staff. But right now our main project is working with food banks, donating food and bread.”