Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

A. Brief History

After watching a 2011 movie from Thailand entitled "The Billionaire", also known as "Top Secret: Wai Roon Pan Lan", the researchers were inspired by the fact that it was based from a true story of success by a man named Aitthipat Kulapong Vanich, popularly known as Top who started doing business at the age 19 on 2004. And on 2007, he became one of youngest billionaire at the age 27. He was the founder of Tao Kae Noi products, the Thailand-made Japanese-inspired snack using crispy toasted seaweed sheets called Nori in Japanese. Today, Tao Kae Noi snack are sold widely in Asia, part of Europe and America, they are also making inroads into Africa and Middle-East. He is billionaire ,commanding about 70 percent of the seaweed snack market in Thailand.(www.sohiok.com) This Tao Kae Noi Snacks or Seaweed crackers are still uncommon to Filipinos. The researchers believe that the probability for Filipinos patronizing it is huge like in Thailand where seaweed crackers is uncommon not until it was introduced by Aitthipat Kulapong Vanich In choosing a proposed business the researcher considered three things. First, they believed that Supermarkets and convenience stores from Imperial, Silang, Cavite up to Balibago, Sta. Rosa, Laguna are open to the possibility of buying new and inexisting product. Second eating merienda would always be a part of Filipino culture. In fact Filipinos are known for having more than three meals a day wherein merienda would usually taken as a brunch, as an

afternoon snack, as a merienda cena and as a midnight snack or in any other cases depending on how to satisfy individual cravings for food. Lastly, the researcher observed that Sitio Muzon, Puting Kahoy, Silang, Cavite is a strategic place for manufacturing and selling the product. The combination of these three points is the researchers' basis for studying the feasibilty of

Establishing a Seaweed Cracker Production in Sitio Muzon,Puting Kahoy,Silang Cavite. This business will be financed by ______________________, grandfather of one of the researchers who will provide for the location/site of the business.

B. Statement of the Problem The central problem of this study is the evaluation of the viability of establishing a Seaweed Crackers Production in Sitio Muzon,Puting Kahoy,Silang Cavite.

C. Objectives The core objective of the study is to determine the viability and feasibility of the proposed enterprise. Particularly, objectives from the standpoint of the four functional areas of management are as follows: 1. Marketing a. To provide a clear description of the seaweed crackers that will be produced and introduce it to the market. b. To study the industry profile in order to analyze the profitability, as well as the strength and weakness, and the threats and opportunities of the venture. c. To identify the target market of the product to be offered.

d. To find out the (supply) e. To analyze the interactions between demand and supply in order to determine the market share. f. To formulate the most effective marketing strategies necessary for the success of the proposed business. 2. Production / Technical a. To describe the steps required in the production process. b. To specify the equipment, furniture and fixtures, and utilities needed for the production. c. (building) d. To determine the most strategic location for the proposed venture. e. To design and layout the floor plan to ensure effective and efficient operation. f. To determine the capacity of the production. (capacity/scheduling) (pre-op) (waste disp) g. To find out the pre-operating costs as well as the utilities and other costs. h. i. To identify the overall cost of establishing the seaweed crackers production.

3. Organization and Management a. To decide on the most appropriate form of business organization for the venture. b. To design an organizational structure that ensures the efficient operation of the business.

c. To determine the number of workers needed and their qualifications to ensure that the capacity of the operations will be met. d. To identify the appropriate compensation package of the workers for their satisfaction. 4. Financial a. To determine the major financial assumptions to be adopted in the projection, estimation and computation involved in the study. b. To make an estimate on the initial cost to establish the proposed business to be able to determine the capital requirement. c. To present the projected financial statements covering the five-year period. d. To analyze the financial performance and evaluate the profitability and financial stability of the proposed business venture.

D. Significance of the Study This study will explore the viability of establishing a seaweed cracker manufacturing in Sitio Muzon,Puting Kahoy, Silang, Cavite. Thus, the study will provide readers in general a clear view of proposed business and knowledge for the similar field: To the investor, this study will give them information about the feasibility of the proposed business. This will provide them with relevant information needed to undertake such venture.

To the researcher, this will complete their

requirements for a Bachelor's Degree. It

also provide them the opportunity to apply the theoretical skills and knowledge they gain from the university in putting up this proposed business. To the consumer, it will give them a new variant of nutritious cracker to satisfy their needs and wants while keeping a healthy lifestyle. To the government, this will generate additional income through taxes to be used in different government programs. To the community, this will yield potential job opportunities for unemployed people To the church, a return of one-tenth part of the income will be given to be used in church administration. To the students and school, AUP, this feasibility study could be used as an additional reference in the school library.

E. Scope and Limitations The coverage of this study focuses on the establishment of Seaweed Crackers Production at Sitio Muzon,Puting Kahoy,Silang Cavite. The proposed venture deals with manufacturing and distributing quality seaweed crackers to the market. The primary target market of the proposed venture is the supermarkets and convenience stores from Putingkahoy to Balibago. Only the first five years of business operation was covered in this study.

F. Methodology This section describes the sources of data that the researchers used in conducting this study as well as the research design used and the treatment applied in analyzing the data. 1. Sources of Data A. Primary sources Data were collected by conducting interviews, making observations, and distributing survey questionnaires which were duly validated by five experts and five laymen to ensure that the questionnaire are clear and can be easily understood by the respondents These questionaires were distributed to the target market composed of supermarkets, grocery stores, and convenience stores from Imperial to Balibago. b. Secondary Sources Secondary data were gathered from the printed material such as books and periodicals, primarily from JLDM library. A wide range of information were also collected from the internet. 2. Research Design

Two methods namely descriptive and exploratory method were used by the researchers in this study.

Exploratory research makes use of more qualitative approaches than does descriptive research. Descriptive research, designed to answer more specific questions, tends to use quantitative methods

Exploratory

Exploratory studies help develop a better understanding of a situation or a given question. Naresh K. Malhotra, in the book "Marketing Research: An Applied Orientation, 5/E," defines it as "the provision of insights into and comprehension of the problem situation confronting the researcher." The research process at this stage is unstructured and flexible. Exploratory studies allow researchers to formulate more complex or precise research questions for further studies. Examples of exploratory designs include needs assessments, literature reviews, case studies and interviews.

Descriptive

Descriptive designs provide comprehensive information about a problem or situation, its variables and its features. They are more precise in their focus and scope than exploratory designs. According to Francis K.O. Yuen et al., in the book "Effective Grant Writing and Program Evaluation for Human Service Professionals," a descriptive study uses more specific datagathering techniques, may involve various comparison groups in its attempt to produce a representative sample and provides specific and clear information regarding the problem. Descriptive research designs cannot control conditions nor test hypotheses.

Read

more:

Types

of

Designs

in

Research

eHow.com

http://www.ehow.com/info_7760064_types-designs-research.html#ixzz2RPrGW81y

G. Treatment of Data

H. Review of Related Literature Seaweed snacks are not as common as chips and candy, but eating seaweed offers nutritional benefits, particularly if you're dieting. If you eat seaweed snacks instead of potato chips, you'll reduce your calorie and sodium intake.

Eating seaweed snacks helps you avoid some nutritional pitfalls of candy and other convenience foods, because seaweed snacks are sugar-free. Many convenience foods are typically high in sugar, as it provides flavor. Unfortunately, consuming too much sugar leads to tooth decay and potentially increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to the August 2004 edition of "The Journal of the American Medical Association." Because seaweed snacks are sugar-free, you can avoid these detrimental effects.

Aug 6, 2011 | By Brian Willett http://www.livestrong.com/article/509689-what-are-the-benefits-of-eating-seaweed-snacks/

Seaweed is relaxing for the body because it supplies magnesium as well as pantothenic acid and riboflavin, two B vitamins that support the adrenal glands.

Full of toxins? Seaweed may help draw them out. Not for nothing did seaweed sales skyrocket in Russia after the Chernobyl meltdown! As well as helping remove the radioative chemical strontium from the body, seaweeds help remove cadmium and lead which are both found in cigarette smoke and in the environment thanks to industry and transport. http://raw-pleasure.com.au/Articles/the-benefits-of-eating-seaweed

Nori is rich in iodine and iron and quite high in protein. It is also a good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, magnesium and riboflavin (B2). Not only does it have all these nutritional riches, it is also a low-fat food.Nori is a type of laver sold in the west. It's an important part of Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisines and is now a multi-million dollar industry. Nori tends to be sold as flat sheets or flakes. It is also often toasted. If you have eaten sushi, chances are that you have eaten nori; it is often used for wrapping rolled pieces of sushi. http://www.greenfootsteps.com/seaweed-health.html

Adding Nori seaweed to your regular nutrition can help enhance your overall health. Studies show that it is high in nutrients and vitamins, as well as trace minerals. Also, it has significant amounts of vitamin C, iron, protein, magnesium and potassium.

Nori is an excellent source of vitamins, including Vitamin B1, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, niacin and essential minerals. Also, it contains significant amounts of iron that help in neutralizing free radicals responsible for cell damage.

Nori contains Omega 3 fatty acid, which play a role in improving your overall health. These essential fatty acids help in brain growth and also reduce the occurrence of stroke and heart disease.

http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-nori-seaweed/