Kusina sang Kabuhi is an Iloilo City producer of bottled sauces and ready-to-heat meals, sold through neighborhood groceries and community markets. It signed the Buy Small pledge to keep more of its purchasing with independent local businesses instead of defaulting to large distributors for convenience. The team reviewed its spending on labels, vegetables, delivery, and repairs, then built a supplier list that includes small farms and family-run service providers. It did not promise to choose a smaller supplier when food safety or reliability would be compromised; instead, it made local options easier to find and compare. In the first six months, 22% of supplier spending went to independent businesses, up from 14%, and the number of small vendors paid regularly rose from six to nine. The owners say the pledge has strengthened relationships and made seasonal ingredients more visible in the menu. They now review the spending share quarterly and discuss practical ways to increase it.
