Mark Herras is evolving as a businessman.
Last year, the first-ever StarStruck Male Ultimate Survivor was featured in a YouTube video showing his business venture.
He became a franchisee of Farmer’s Meatshop, which grows its own supply of meat in a farm in Pangasinan.
Mark is also the brand ambassador, which is most likely how he secured his own franchise store located in Malate, Manila.
Read: Mark Herras ventures into meat shop business
Just a few months after that feature, things are looking good for the meat shop.
In a recent interview with Korina Sanchez for Rated Korina, the dancer-actor revealed that the number of their stores have increased.
There is already a branch in Cavite, and additional shops are on the way in Quezon City and Bulacan.
But the expansion entails not just additional branches, but also more products.
Now there's Farmer’s Crayfish, which started to offer live crayfish for cooking.
The company has a residential crayfish breeding farm in Amadeo, Cavite, that Mark visits weekly.
It also has farms in Pangasinan and Bulacan.
“Binibigay ko ang oras ko dito kasi ito ang pinaka-focus natin. Ito yung pinaka-priority,” Mark explained in Rated Korina.
He also gave a farm tour to show how to breed and grow crayfish.
Listening to Mark explain the process of crayfish breeding showed that he has really learned a lot about his venture.
It was mentioned in the feature that a kilo of crayfish ranges from PHP 2,500 to PHP 3,500.
Breeding this seafood is low-maintenance and is ideal for a tropical country like the Philippines.
With a capital of PHP 100,000, the return on investment for crayfish farming is expected within six months, with earnings reaching up to PHP 300,000.
While crayfish may look like a shrimp, it actually belongs to the lobster family.
MARK HERRAS ON BUSINESS VENTURE
Mark said he is now focusing on business, as he rarely gets showbiz projects these days.
He added that he did not get any projects last year, which is why he is putting his energy into business.
Both the crayfish and meat shop ventures have been a big help.
“Ito yung regular income na nakukuha ko. Ang showbiz hindi naman laging… like last year, wala akong ginagawang trabaho.
"So buti na lang, may dumating na business na naging patok. So ito yung ginawa kong regular work.
"Buong buhay ko, showbiz ako, 17 [years old], I’m 39 now and then suddenly biglang wala akong trabaho.
"Nagpa-panic ako kasi syempre hindi naman ako magaling sa pera, wala akong business talaga before.
“Natakot ako na yung anak ko, wala akong ma-provide. As a provider wala akong mailagay na pagkain sa lamesa.”
Mark has two kids with partner Nicole Donesa: Corky, 5, and Mija, seven months old.
He also has an 11-year-old daughter, Ada, from a previous relationship.
Thankfully, despite the challenges, opportunities still came his way.
He said, “Every time I had an issue with my life, with my career, parang thank you Kay Lord, nakakabalik pa naman po ako.”
