| Sammy Lorenzana Los Angeles, California The Filipino King of Oriental Food Stores |
Solomon Udarbe Lorenzana, Jr., came to the United States in
1956 with two purposes in mind: to acquire stateside educations
and then go back to the Philippines and join the flourishing food
empire his parents had started. Sammy, or “Manong” if you are
from the Ilocos provinces in the Philippines, did just that . He
acquired his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from
the University of Hawaii (Honolulu Business College) in Honolulu
and then proceeded to San Francisco, Calif. to major in Insurance
at the University of San Francisco.
Successful in his mission to acquire the education needed to
assist his parents in their businesses in the Philippines, Sammy
went back to the Philippines and joined as a “stateside-educated”
manager the Lorenzana Food Corporation in Navotas, Rizal.
“I’m hyper. I just can’t seem to be happy doing one function at a
time. So while I was managing my parents business, I joined
Channel 5 Television Network as Account Executives and even
tagged as sales representatives for Regal Sales Company and
the Philamlife Insurance Company,” began Sammy. “I was
restless. I wanted more challenges that Philippines had to offer
me.”
1956 with two purposes in mind: to acquire stateside educations
and then go back to the Philippines and join the flourishing food
empire his parents had started. Sammy, or “Manong” if you are
from the Ilocos provinces in the Philippines, did just that . He
acquired his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from
the University of Hawaii (Honolulu Business College) in Honolulu
and then proceeded to San Francisco, Calif. to major in Insurance
at the University of San Francisco.
Successful in his mission to acquire the education needed to
assist his parents in their businesses in the Philippines, Sammy
went back to the Philippines and joined as a “stateside-educated”
manager the Lorenzana Food Corporation in Navotas, Rizal.
“I’m hyper. I just can’t seem to be happy doing one function at a
time. So while I was managing my parents business, I joined
Channel 5 Television Network as Account Executives and even
tagged as sales representatives for Regal Sales Company and
the Philamlife Insurance Company,” began Sammy. “I was
restless. I wanted more challenges that Philippines had to offer
me.”
To unleash his restlessness, Sammy went to Heidelberg, Germany and for two years, from 1967, took
Masters and Doctorate courses in Economics from the University of Heidelberg.
“By then there was no major oriental food store that does not carry the Lorenzana food brands - at least either
our “patis” (shrimp sauce) or “bagoong” (shrimp paste) products,” explained Sammy. “ I wanted to expand my
parents’ operations internationally, and concentrate heavily in developing the United States and Canada
markets. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, an American citizen by birth, I did not have any problems with immigration
visa.”
In 1969, Sammy chose Los Angeles, California as his base of operations. “I had this grandeur idea, and my
father gave me the impression that he will bankroll my operations,” chuckled Sammy. “Then when I was all
set to go to the States, my father just wished me luck giving me financial supportfor my capitalization."
Sammy’s father is Solomon Lardizabal Lorenzana, Sr., former mayor of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur. He started the
bagoong and patis business in their backyard in Hawaii when they were living there. Then the senior
Lorenzana decided to return to the Philippines to establish his Lorenzana Food Corporation empire.
“My father told me to go ahead and to open my own Lorenzana Food Corporation in America. However, he
was firmed in not providing me the start up capital in order for me to really strive on my own,” continued
Sammy. “Looking back, my father was very wise. Because I have to build the business through my own
initiative, I was forced to mentally and physically strove more than it was necessary. My beginning was
humble and full of ups-and-downs. One thing in my side was I had unlimited credit lines with my parents
and this unable me to start the Lorenzana Food Corporation - U.S.A."
That was in 1969, the rest is now history. Sammy was able to build a big warehouse and a building complex
in choice areas in Los Angeles. The building complex he started is a huge success that Sammy is now
contemplating to franchise the project. The building is composed of a huge supermarket with at least two
dozens species of fresh fish and seafood; fresh butchered meat; fresh poultry products and produce, and of
course, Lorenzana brand food products from the Philippines.
Also in the same building are a spacious meeting room for the Filipino community; three to four fast food
restaurants specializing in Filipino delicacies; a video store, a Philippine boutique store; a jewelry store; and
several office spaces for service-oriented businesses.
“The parking lot of the Lorenzana Food Store looks like a town plaza fiesta every day,” observed a Filpino
diplomat from the Los Angeles Philippine Consulate General. “It’s the hubnob of the Filipinos in this area."
Through Sammy’s untiring efforts and limitless energy, the Lorenzana Food Corporation now offers over
three hundred different food varieties from the general food merchandise to frozen, dried, canned, bottled,
wrapped and frozen-fresh items. The Corporation distributes all over the United States to more than four
thousands food outlets carrying the Lorenzana brands.
Sammy is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the United States operations. He also
serves as Board Member of the various Lorenzana Food Corporations in the Philippines. In addition, Sammy
is Chairman of the LFCG Corporation in San Jose, California; Chairman of the Board of SULTRA Corporation
in America in Los Angeles, California and in Paranaque, Metro Manila.
“To compete with the world market, I was forced to start operations in Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Korea and
Indonesia,” explained Sammy whose telephones, fax machines and private and confidential secretaries
seem to be in high gear all the time.
Sammy is married to the former Josephine Orduna, daughter of Gilbert Orduna and the former Edna Soriano,
both of Bugallion, Pangasinan. The Lorenzanas have three children: Ariana, 8; Karina, 7 and Sammy III, 5.
They reside on the hilltop at the exclusive Los Feliz district in Los Angeles.
Masters and Doctorate courses in Economics from the University of Heidelberg.
“By then there was no major oriental food store that does not carry the Lorenzana food brands - at least either
our “patis” (shrimp sauce) or “bagoong” (shrimp paste) products,” explained Sammy. “ I wanted to expand my
parents’ operations internationally, and concentrate heavily in developing the United States and Canada
markets. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, an American citizen by birth, I did not have any problems with immigration
visa.”
In 1969, Sammy chose Los Angeles, California as his base of operations. “I had this grandeur idea, and my
father gave me the impression that he will bankroll my operations,” chuckled Sammy. “Then when I was all
set to go to the States, my father just wished me luck giving me financial supportfor my capitalization."
Sammy’s father is Solomon Lardizabal Lorenzana, Sr., former mayor of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur. He started the
bagoong and patis business in their backyard in Hawaii when they were living there. Then the senior
Lorenzana decided to return to the Philippines to establish his Lorenzana Food Corporation empire.
“My father told me to go ahead and to open my own Lorenzana Food Corporation in America. However, he
was firmed in not providing me the start up capital in order for me to really strive on my own,” continued
Sammy. “Looking back, my father was very wise. Because I have to build the business through my own
initiative, I was forced to mentally and physically strove more than it was necessary. My beginning was
humble and full of ups-and-downs. One thing in my side was I had unlimited credit lines with my parents
and this unable me to start the Lorenzana Food Corporation - U.S.A."
That was in 1969, the rest is now history. Sammy was able to build a big warehouse and a building complex
in choice areas in Los Angeles. The building complex he started is a huge success that Sammy is now
contemplating to franchise the project. The building is composed of a huge supermarket with at least two
dozens species of fresh fish and seafood; fresh butchered meat; fresh poultry products and produce, and of
course, Lorenzana brand food products from the Philippines.
Also in the same building are a spacious meeting room for the Filipino community; three to four fast food
restaurants specializing in Filipino delicacies; a video store, a Philippine boutique store; a jewelry store; and
several office spaces for service-oriented businesses.
“The parking lot of the Lorenzana Food Store looks like a town plaza fiesta every day,” observed a Filpino
diplomat from the Los Angeles Philippine Consulate General. “It’s the hubnob of the Filipinos in this area."
Through Sammy’s untiring efforts and limitless energy, the Lorenzana Food Corporation now offers over
three hundred different food varieties from the general food merchandise to frozen, dried, canned, bottled,
wrapped and frozen-fresh items. The Corporation distributes all over the United States to more than four
thousands food outlets carrying the Lorenzana brands.
Sammy is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the United States operations. He also
serves as Board Member of the various Lorenzana Food Corporations in the Philippines. In addition, Sammy
is Chairman of the LFCG Corporation in San Jose, California; Chairman of the Board of SULTRA Corporation
in America in Los Angeles, California and in Paranaque, Metro Manila.
“To compete with the world market, I was forced to start operations in Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Korea and
Indonesia,” explained Sammy whose telephones, fax machines and private and confidential secretaries
seem to be in high gear all the time.
Sammy is married to the former Josephine Orduna, daughter of Gilbert Orduna and the former Edna Soriano,
both of Bugallion, Pangasinan. The Lorenzanas have three children: Ariana, 8; Karina, 7 and Sammy III, 5.
They reside on the hilltop at the exclusive Los Feliz district in Los Angeles.
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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