Brand Origins

In this episode of Brand Origins, we dig into the true history of Nescafé and the instant coffee wars. We uncover the early inventors who came before Nestlé, how instant coffee existed decades earlier, and how Nescafé still became the global leader and the Philippines’ #1 brand.We break down how World War I and World War II turned instant coffee into a battlefield essential, how the Great Depression almost killed the idea entirely, and how Max Morganthaler saved a cancelled project that Nestlé had already abandoned. We also explore Café Puro, Blend 45, Nescafé Gold, Nespresso, Dolce Gusto, Starbucks At Home, and why Nestlé invested in Blue Bottle Coffee.If you want to understand how instant coffee became part of Filipino culture, and how Nescafé won a global war it didn’t even start, this is the full story.Episode Sponsor: The SauceFor bite-sized, easy-to-digest business news in the Philippines, check out The Sauce on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thesauce.ph/Want your brand to be featured in future episodes?Visit chrisgarin.com for sponsorships, partnerships, and collaborations.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.garin/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chris_garinFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077660561299Threads: https://www.threads.net/@chris.garinTimestamps0:00 – Intro0:50 – Ad: The Sauce3:52 – Satori Kato4:35 – George Washington Coffee5:37 – World War I6:18 – “Cup of Joe” Origins8:25 – Nestlé Enters the Picture9:05 – The Great Depression11:23 – Brazil Taps Nestlé11:36 – Max Morgenthaler15:09 – Why They Called It “Nescafé”16:33 – World War II18:44 – Nescafé in the Philippines19:25 – Nescafé’s Competitors23:35 – Nescafé’s Foreign-Looking Ads26:01 – Nescafé Gold27:05 – Nespresso28:31 – Dolce Gusto28:48 – Starbucks At Home30:27 – Blue Bottle Coffee32:07 – The Nescafé EmpireAbout Brand OriginsBrand Origins tells the stories behind the biggest brands and the ideas that built them. Each episode dives deep into the business moves, cultural moments, and turning points that shaped the companies we see today.

SkyFlakes: The Complete Brand HistorySkyflakes is one of the biggest cracker brands in the Philippines. You will find it in lunch boxes, sari-sari stores, office drawers, long bus rides, merienda tables, and OFW care packages sent across the world.But how did a simple cracker become such a big part of everyday life in the Philippines?In this episode of Brand Origins, we uncover the complete brand history of SkyFlakes and the rise of M.Y. San, the company behind some of the most iconic biscuits in the country.From its early origins before World War II, to its reinvention in the Philippines, to the launch of SkyFlakes and FITA in the 1960s, this episode breaks down how a humble cracker became a cultural staple.We explore M.Y. San’s beginnings, the debt crisis it survived, and how SkyFlakes managed to outlast competitors like Rebisco and Magic Flakes.We also dive into the surprising story of graham crackers and why M.Y. San became the go-to brand for mango float in Filipino homes.If you want to understand how a biscuit became part of our national identity, this is the full story.Episode Sponsor: The SauceFor bite-sized, easy-to-digest business news in the Philippines, check out The Sauce on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thesauce.ph/SponsorshipsWant your brand to be featured in future episodes?Visit chrisgarin.com for sponsorships, partnerships, and collaborations.Say HiInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.garin/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chris_garinFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077660561299Threads: https://www.threads.net/@chris.garinTimestamps0:00 – Intro0:50 – Ad: The Sauce2:33 – The Founder, M.Y. San2:57 – Escolta Ice Cream Parlor3:24 – Escolta and Binondo History7:20 – M.Y. San’s Debt Crisis10:19 – M.Y. San in the Philippines11:18 – FITA History12:05 – Graham Crackers History13:16 – SkyFlakes History14:29 – SkyFlakes Marketing Strategy16:27 – SkyFlakes Ads20:00 – OutroAbout Brand OriginsBrand Origins tells the stories behind the biggest brands and the ideas that built them.Each episode dives deep into the business moves, cultural moments, and turning points that shaped the companies we see today.

In this episode, Chris is joined by Monique Avila, Head of Customer Success at Payoneer, the fintech platform helping small and medium-sized businesses thrive on the global stage. Together, they discuss how Filipino entrepreneurs and freelancers are breaking barriers, building international businesses right from home. Discover how Payoneer is reshaping the way Filipinos get paid, connect with clients worldwide, and transform local talent into a powerful global force.📍 TIMESTAMPS0:00 – How Filipinos are building careers and income streams from home5:00 – Payoneer’s Monique Avila joins the conversation8:15 – What Payoneer Philippines looked like then vs. now10:25 – The Origins of Payoneer13:50 – How Payoneer earned the trust of freelancers and businesses16:30 – Why Payoneer set its sights on emerging markets18:13 – How Payoneer gained its first users in the Philippines22:00 – Stories of how Payoneer changed lives for Filipino freelancers26:22 – What the next 10 years looks like for Payoneer29:00 – Payoneer’s Promo: Why you should sign up now🎁 PAYONEER PROMO: Register to Payoneer and get a $40 cashback reward once you reach $4,000 in outgoing eligible transactions within the first 90 days. Promo runs until November 15, 2025. See the full terms and conditions in the link. Sign up here: https://tinyurl.com/pdec46us

<h2>Watsons: The Complete History of the Philippines' Biggest Health and Beauty Retailer</h2><p>Watsons has become a household name in the Philippines. You will find it in nearly every SM mall, beside every grocery, and in almost every major city. But how did this happen? And why did SM choose to partner with Watsons instead of Mercury Drug, the most established pharmacy chain in the country at the time?</p><br><p>In this episode of Brand Origins, we uncover the full history of Watsons in the Philippines and how it became one of SM's most powerful retail partners. From its beginnings as A.S. Watson & Co. in 19th century Hong Kong, to its rapid expansion across Asia, to the critical partnership with SM Investments, this episode breaks down how the brand grew from a small apothecary into one of the largest health and beauty retailers in the world.</p><br><p>We explore how Watsons built its reputation for trust, accessibility, and convenience, and how SM's business strategy helped the brand dominate the Philippine market.</p><br><br><h2>Timestamps</h2><p>00:00 – Intro</p><br><p>00:58 – Henry Sy's Vow to Crush Mercury Drug</p><br><p>02:40 – How Britain Took Hong Kong</p><br><p>06:49 – The Hong Kong Dispensary</p><br><p>07:55 – A.S. Watson's Rapid Growth</p><br><p>10:17 – Watsons Water</p><br><p>11:07 – Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock</p><br><p>11:23 – How Li Ka-Shing Acquired the Company</p><br><p>12:02 – Brands A.S. Watson Owns</p><br><p>14:20 – Watsons in the Philippines</p><br><p>15:08 – Watsons' Secret Cash Cow (Optimo)</p><br><p>18:39 – Watsons Pink</p><br><p>19:43 – Outro</p><br><br><h2>Sponsorships</h2><p>Want your brand to be featured in future episodes?<br>Visit <a href="https://chrisgarin.com">chrisgarin.com</a> for sponsorship opportunities, partnerships, or collaboration inquiries.</p>

In this episode, Chris talks about BBK Electronics — the Chinese smartphone company behind Vivo, Oppo, Realme, OnePlus, and iQOO. Learn about why they decided to launch multiple brands instead of just launching one big brand, their growth strategies, and how they defended their market share against the threat of Xiaomi.  ------ TIMESTAMPS: (3:00) - Humble beginnings of Duan YongPing and BBK Electronics (8:49) - The Real reason why Vivo and Oppo invest heavily on advertising (12:37) - The Battle for India: Xiaomi vs. BBK (15:26) - Why BBK launched Realme (17:18) - Why BBK launched multiple brands instead of just one big brand (21:50) - BBK Electronics clever distribution strategy ------ Subscribe to my YouTube channel  For shorter clips, follow me on Tiktok and Instagram Want to sponsor an episode? Check out the details on my website.

In this episode, Chris breaks down the auto industry in the Philippines, the auto manufacturing industry in China, the history of each Chinese car brand that has entered the country, and whether China-made cars are finally worth considering.  ------ TIMESTAMPS: (4:26) - Which car brand is winning in the Philippines? (7:29) - The auto manufacturing industry of China (13:38) - "The Big Four", the largest automakers in China (15:54) - Brief history of each Chinese car brand (Geely, MG, Changan, etc.) (22:54) - Can we trust Chinese brands? ------ Subscribe to my YouTube channel  For shorter clips, follow me on Tiktok and Instagram Want to sponsor an episode? Check out the details on my website. Read More Quick LinksGet Embed PlayerDownload Audio File  

Shopee and Lazada implemented different strategies in terms of logistics, funding, marketing, inventory, expansion, and even management style. Go in-depth into the reasons why they different routes, and how it affected their present-day situation.  Subscribe to my YouTube channel  For shorter clips, follow me on Tiktok and Instagram Want to sponsor an episode? Check out the details on my website.

Learn about Rocket Internet, the startup incubator that founded Lazada. Learn about the logistical and cultural problems that Lazada had to find solutions to in order to get people to embrace eCommerce. And most importantly, learn about the Alibaba acquisition and how Lazada became as big as it is today.  Subscribe to my YouTube channel  Message me on Instagram Want to sponsor an episode? Check out the details on my website.

This episode covers the complete history of Shopee. I talk about Sea Limited, the mother company of Shopee, Garena, and SeaMoney. Learn about the strategy that Shopee used to dominate Southeast Asia, and why the synergy of the three companies makes Sea Limited an unstoppable force. Lastly, learn about the reasons why Shopee has recently been on the decline, and why the collapse of the company may be near if they don't become profitable soon. Subscribe to my YouTube channel  Message me on Instagram Want to sponsor an episode? Check out the details on my website.

Learn how Starbucks converted me from a hater into a Starbucks superfan. I talk about what Starbucks does right, and what smaller local coffee shops can learn from them so that they can create customer loyalty. Share your story at chrisgarin.com Subscribe to my YouTube channel  Message me on Instagram Want to sponsor an episode? Check out the details on my website.