Merkado PH merely started as an idea during a road trip—as we were enjoying the open roads and a casual conversation on the way to Stockholm. A vision sparked by the love for Filipino food and culture. Peter, now fondly known as Tindero Pedro, brought up the thought of creating an online Filipino store. We talked about how Filipinos, no matter where they are, always seek out familiar flavors from home—how we’d travel miles just to find the right ingredients for our favorite dishes. That conversation marked the beginning of what would eventually become Merkado PH.
Fast forward to Christmas Market 2023 at Torslanda Torg, when we officially took our first step, setting up a stall as part of the festivities. That participation of the Christmas Market was our first milestone. It marked not only our first participation in a community event but also the establishment of our very own Filipino-Asian store, Merkado PH, at Torslanda Torg 3.
Tindero Pedro was busy preparing for the Christmas Market at Torslanda Torg 3. At that time, we didn't have any of our regular products available for sale. Instead, we offered homemade Dumplings, Lumpia, Macaroni Salad, and Turon.
A Humble Idea Turned Reality
That road trip conversation stayed with me, although, I was hesitant to act on it. As I didn’t have a background in running a business, and we had only recently moved to Torslanda—a place where I knew few people, let alone other Filipinos. The idea of starting a store, let alone one rooted in a culture I held so dear, felt overwhelming. But Peter didn’t let me dwell on the doubts for long. He reminded me of the store's bigger purpose: to share Filipino food and its cultural stories with both Filipinos and Swedes. His encouragement, along with the vision of building a community, kept me going.
Bringing the Store to Life
With Peter’s support, we dove into the nuts and bolts of the business. First, we brainstormed the store’s name and logo. We wanted something that would connect to my Filipino roots and resonate with both Filipinos and Swedes. (For those interested, we’ve shared the story behind the name "Merkado PH" and our bayong logo in another blog post: Why We Named Our Filipino Store in Sweden "Merkado PH"?)
Then came the practical steps: finding suppliers, creating a webshop, and figuring out logistics. Hours were spent emailing, calling, and scouring for suppliers who could help us bring authentic Filipino products to our shelves. Building the webshop was another journey—late nights spent learning, coding, debugging, and testing. Our trash bins overflowed with drafts and notes as we sketched out our ideas and made them real, piece by piece.
Working as an all-around staff
Our First Market, Our First Supporters
Our first Christmas Market at Torslanda torg was both exciting and nerve-wracking. After all the work, only four Filipinos showed up. I’ll admit, I was disheartened. But these four supporters—their presence, their encouragement—lit a small but powerful spark. They reminded me that every big dream starts small.
During last year’s Christmas Market, we met Ate Khim and Ate Lorraine. They were adventurous enough to try my homemade Dumplings and Lumpia.
So we continued, tackling the next steps: sourcing more products, renovating the store, painting, assembling shelves, and transforming the space into something special. There were days of pure exhaustion, working against the clock to set up before our products arrived. I reached my breaking point more than once, feeling overwhelmed by how much still needed to be done. But my friends and family, my tindero Peter, and my daughter kept reminding me of how far we’d come, cheering me on through the challenges.
Meeting Fellow Filipino Store Owners
Along the way, we were fortunate to meet other Filipinos who run tindahans of their own. These new friends and fellow business owners became part of our journey. They supported us, shared advice, and even collaborated with us during our events. Their generosity and camaraderie reminded us of the deep sense of bayanihan—the spirit of community and cooperation—that lies at the heart of Filipino culture. Together, we supported one another and made our events more meaningful and welcoming for everyone who visited.
From Curious Visitors to Our First Breakthrough
As we worked, curious children would peek in, especially when they were waiting for the bus outside in the cold. They’d knock, asking if they could wait inside. They asked questions, fascinated by what was going on, and later shared their excitement with their parents.
One day, a local mother came into our not-yet-open store with her children. They bought some sauces, including our beloved banana ketchup. She later shared her experience in a local community group, Grannar i Torslanda, which has around 18,000 members. That single post ignited curiosity across the neighborhood. Soon after, a local newspaper reached out to us, covering our story and creating a buzz around our Grand Opening. When we finally opened our doors, we were warmly greeted by a mix of Filipino and Swedish faces, all curious to explore the flavors and stories behind the products on our shelves.
We were grateful to be interviewed by Henrik Edberg from Torslanda-Öckerö Tidningen. During the interview, we prepared some Filipino dishes for him to try.
Link to the newspaper article: https://www.tidningen.se/torslanda/filippinska-smaker-pa-torslanda-torg/
We served Chicken Lumpia, Longganisa, and Tocino with Garlic Rice. And of course, what else but Banana Ketchup!
A Community of Support
Looking back, from those four initial Filipino supporters to the growing community that visits us today, we are deeply grateful. Each of you—whether you’re a kababayan seeking familiar flavors or a Swedish neighbor discovering Filipino culture for the first time—has played a part in making Merkado PH what it is today. It’s been a long, challenging journey, but seeing the community’s response has made every sleepless night, every doubt, and every challenge worth it.
To all who have supported us, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. We look forward to bringing you more of the Philippines, one sawsawan and tsokolate tablea at a time.