How Justin Uy, Cebu's Mango King, Turned His Failed Businesses into a Dried Mango Empire
Walk into any supermarket or pasalubong shop and chances are you’ll find rows of dried mangoes bearing the Philippines or Cebu name. This Filipino staple has become a world-famous snack, and it’s largely thanks to one of Cebu’s best dried mango manufacturers: Profood International, founded and owned by Justin Uy, the Mango King himself. It’s a title that he didn’t earn overnight, mind you—rather, he earned it through years of hard work and perseverance, failure after failure.
ISHA FOJAS
ISHA FOJAS
How Justin Uy of Cebu Became the Philippines’ Mango King
Despite not coming from a well-off family, Justin was blessed with an entrepreneurial mindset. He began selling shell craft jewelry with his brother at 15 years old. Sadly, his small business wouldn’t have much luck, and he would venture into two other businesses, poultry and mushroom farming, both of which would also end in failure.
After a total of three failed businesses, that’s when he decided to start selling dried mangoes. Who knew that it would be this sweet delicacy that would help him build his multi-million peso empire?
“Profood is one of the, I would say, miracles, because we were able to introduce dried mangoes to the world market,” Justin said.
Profood began in 1978, in a nipa hut that didn’t even have cemented floors and with only seven workers. Fast forward 46 years later and they now have world-class facilities that can fit over 10,000 thousand workers and produce over 120 products—80% of which they export to over 50 countries all over the world. You can now find Philippine-made dried mangoes and other fruit products in stores like Don Quijote, Costco, and Trader Joe’s.
ISHA FOJAS
More than four decades have passed since Justin Uy founded Profood International Corporation (PIC), dubbed as “the largest Philippine-based dried fruit producer and the standard bearer of world-class processed fruit products from the Philippine Islands.” Now at 66 years old, the hardworking businessman has no plans of stopping. In fact, a new chapter has just begun.
Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark
JPARK ISLAND RESORT & WATERPARK
A decade ago, he decided to expand his business into hospitality by investing in JPark Island Resort & Waterpark, the first-ever five-star waterpark and family resort and hotel in the Philippines. Where all three generations of your family, from the grandparents to the grandkids can bond and have fun. The resort covers an area of over 16 hectares (41 acres). It also has 820 rooms, villas and suites, seven themed pools, 10 dining outlets, a casino, an activity zone, a dive shop, and a private beach. A branch of Jpark Island Resort in Panglao, Bohol is also in the works.
JPARK ISLAND RESORT & WATERPARK
JPARK ISLAND RESORT & WATERPARK
When asked who he owes all his success to, he proudly concludes, “All the people [who supported me]. Everybody.”
Both Profood and Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark are run by the family. Together with his brothers, they’re grooming the second generation of Uys to continue their legacy, raising them with the same humility, resilience, and faith shown by their fathers and uncles.
If you’re planning a trip to Mactan, Cebu, consider staying at Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark and visiting the Profood Gallery Giftshop, which is a 30-minute drive from the resort, where you can learn more about the family’s history and humble beginnings.