Merzci Bread and Pastries had gone a long way. From being a small bakery supplying breads to a single store at the Libertad Market to a staple name as one of the best pasalubong manufacturer in Bacolod.
Merzci acknowledges that it owes the continued success and growth of the company to its hardworking and loyal employees. So, as the company celebrates its 23rd year anniversary this 2018, Merzci pays tribute to one of its pioneer employees –Ms. Vivian J. Derpa.
Fondly called as the ‘Mayordoma’ of Merzci, Vivian may appear strict and uptight but as the staff got to know her more, she became a mother figure, guiding employees and helping Merzci become what it is now.
We got an opportunity to sit down with Vivian to talk about her journey with Merzci.
“I’ve been with Merzci for 23 years now. People even say I’m married to Merzci.
Merzci started on May 1, 1995 and I joined on September 4, 1995. In the early days of Merzci, we only have 25 employees composed of the service crew, 2 supervisors and a master baker. We started as a small company and our working space is limited to one room. We weren’t even departmentalized yet.
I was called the ‘Mayordoma’ of Merzci because I was responsible for delegating the tasks to the crew. I remember, we used to open around 4am and close the store at 5pm. In my case, I’m in the closing shift so my hours are between 10am-5pm. But, sometimes I start at 4am and end 4pm. Due to the lack of departmentalization, I took on the responsibility from the purchasing, production, delivery and even supervising drivers. Sometimes, our branches also have concerns that I have to address. There were also times when I need to estimate and convert the orders into recipes because we didn’t have the luxury of technology as we do today.
For 10 years, my life revolved around Merzci. My routine was from my house to Merzci and vice versa. Because of the busy schedule, I didn’t have much time to socialize. I would be too tired to go out every Sundays. But, after transitioning to a departmentalized organization, that’s when I had time to socialize. Despite the busy schedule, it was fun. Of course, I’ve witnessed how Merzci overcame its ups and downs. I saw how boss was so hands-on and together we learnt from the challenges we met along the way.
Now, looking back, I have a lot of wonderful memories with Merzci. I have a lot of stories to tell. If you ask me, I even memorized the plate numbers of boss’ first ever car and our delivery vans.
All I can say is I see myself with Merzci until the day I retire. For as long as I’m healthy, I’ll be happy to stay with Merzci. I’m so happy and grateful to see Merzci grow through the years and become part of that growth for almost 23 years.”
With compassion, perseverance and trust that God will lead the way, Merzci has shown resilience in the midst of adversities and courage in times of trial. This is possible and is all thanks to the men and women behind every delicious delicacy and wonderful customer service by Merzci.
In the end, this is a testament of how a small company can strive, become successful and grow together with its loyal employees.
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