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Business & Tech

Peninsula Caterer Eying Redwood City Expansion Offers Simple Success Formula

Sandra Pereznegron's business has grown amid an economic downturn. A proposed Oak Knoll Drive market and kitchen would bring 15 new jobs to Redwood City.

Sandra Pereznegron's formula for success sounds easy enough.

"Love what you do," she says.

It seems to be a winning strategy.

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In the throes of an steep economic downturn, Pereznegron started up a catering business in Menlo Park in 2010. And at a time when businesses large and small were downsizing or completely shutting down, Pereznegron's  Bay Area Catering and Events has grown.

And she's not done.

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Pereznegron's business, which she co-owns with her brothers Javier and Mario, is eyeing an expansion into the site of the shuttered Emerald Market on 3205 Oak Knoll Drive. The 2,000-square-foot storefront would include an organic market in addition to a commercial catering kitchen.

The Pereznegrons are awaiting city approval for the store later this month.

BAC Organic Market would serve premade meals. In addition to adding jobs, she said the city would benefit from additional tax revenues.

Pereznegron said the Emerald Market store would add 15 jobs to their company, which already employs 35.

Pereznegron said her company caters to groups of all sizes - from family gatherings of 10 to 2,000-plate corporate conferences. Either way, everything on their wildly varied international menu - they feature everything from pork sliders and chicken quesadillas to cumin Panko crusted free-range chicken and sushi - is made from scratch, she said.

"We love to eat good food, and that’s what we bring to our customers," she said.

But her business's success isn't just about the food.

The relationships she's established with her clients, and they way her employees treat their customers are just as important as their signature citrus salsa.

"If there's something that we do wrong, we fix it," she insists.

"We like to maintain happy customers. If our customers are happy, we will be in business for a long time."

 

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