Competitiveness of Micro-Food Enterprises in Catarman, Northern Samar

The micro-food enterprises are relevant and essential development. They operate a major role in national economics and considered as machine for economic advancement all over the world. The micro enterprises are sources of economic growth in the town of Catarman. The micro enterprises in this place continue to increase in number exerting pressures among operators for them to be competitive in their operations. Thus, a need to grab many opportunities to deal business in integrated with large-scale enterprises. This paper assessed the competitiveness of micro-food enterprises in Catarman on the areas of: management, marketing, strategic planning, profitability, labor practices, and food products; with an attempt that their weakness be resolved; their knowledge and know-how be improved to be competitive. This study was conducted in Catarman town proper. It included all the micro-food enterprises, categorized as restaurants, bakery, and outlet food vendors in Catarman, Northern Samar. Their operators/mangers, staff and workers as the respondents. Structures questionnaire and interview was used to gather the needed information. Descriptive-correlational design was used to describe the competitiveness of the Micro Food Enterprises on areas concerned and likewise correlational method was employed to test the significant relationships of the variables. The result from investigating sample of micro-food enterprises in Catarman showed that entrepreneurs use varied management strategies to run their business. Significant influence on Gaisano while management strategies have significant influence on it. This study has found that management and management strategies are the strongest determinant of profitability. For management to further improve its performance is to focus on improving some factors that positively affect firms profitability such as: productivity, through giving reward or bonus for the employee and make a good environmental condition in the workplace, in order to make the employee feel more comfortable and loyal to the entrepreneur. These make them more productive and consequently make the firm more profitable.