With ‘Tres Latinas’ food truck, three friends from Venezuela live the entrepreneurial dream

“Most people feel all Spanish food is tacos. We get to introduce them to Venezuelan food items,” reported Dupont, who lives in Dracut. “Our menu is centered around arepas, a cornmeal flatbread cooked on the grill and stuffed with tasty fillings. It is healthful, gluten totally free, and clean. Everything is grilled to order.”

Immediately after connecting at a Hispanic Week job in Lawrence, the three pals saved and prepared for many years right before launching their have food stuff organization in early 2020.

“The dream began far more than 10 many years in the past, and who would have considered that for the duration of a pandemic that it would grow to be a reality,” reported Valdez, who also life in Dracut. “On March 17, 2020, we went to LegalZoom and concluded the function to build our business. The following week COVID shut down the earth — 2020 was tricky. We began making slowly and gradually and now we are very occupied, booking nicely in progress.”

“We go almost everywhere, like superwomen,” mentioned Dupont, who experienced been a graphic artist in her indigenous Venezuela. “In one week we can be at the convention centre in Boston for an party with 400 people, future serving pupils lunch at Salem State University, and then at a brewery on a Friday night time adopted by a enterprise-catered party on Saturday.”

Possessing a company is not effortless for any individual, but additional women have the self confidence and perseverance to make it perform. In between 2014 and 2019, the amount of gals-owned organizations climbed 21 percent to a full of just about 13 million, in accordance to a report commissioned by American Convey. Income from women of all ages-owned companies rose 21 % to $1.9 trillion.

Valdez, who graduated from Middlesex Local community College and the University of Massachusetts Lowell, experienced some practical experience as her father had run a smaller takeout cafe in Lawrence.

The three women started their food stuff journey by undertaking catering jobs for close friends and spouse and children. With the foods truck, they could branch out into the community.

“We really like hunting at the faces of the folks hoping our food items for the to start with time,” explained Dupont. “In addition to authentic dishes, we create new dishes that unite the American society with Venezuela.”

Customers only see section of what it usually takes to run a effective company. In addition to cooking, Antich-Fjeld, who has a degree from Fitchburg Point out College, handles most of the accounting and enterprise capabilities.

“January and February are not instances for resting,” mentioned Antich-Fjeld, who life in Lawrence. “While the cold tends to make it challenging to work an out of doors food stuff truck, it offers time for us to approach for the coming time. There is a lot to do all through the winter. For illustration, each individual city and town has its own allow process, and we are reserving distinctive situations from birthday get-togethers and weddings to corporate events months in advance.”

However possessing their possess business enterprise allows the women to management the harmony of their perform and spouse and children lifestyle.

“The hrs are extensive and the operate can be tricky, but I get to be my own boss and it feels good.” claimed Valdez, mother of 2-calendar year-previous Sebastian. “Working about my relatives program is significant.”

“We initially determined to give ourselves Sundays off,” mentioned Dupont. “We now choose just one weekend a month off to be with our households. It is vital to us to be in a position to have family members time.”

Dupont, mom of two daughters Dani, 14, and Sami, 9, is happy to set an illustration for her little ones.

“My daughters appreciate what we do,” she stated “My 14-year-aged does assist a tiny little bit and the young 1 will assist as she gets older. It is important for my daughters to see what is achievable for ladies.”

The Tres Latinas’ entrepreneurial spirit stays potent.

“Our aspiration was to have our individual cafe, an true cafe and cafe,” reported Valdez. “That is nonetheless our desire and we keep on to do the job in direction of it.”

Linda Greenstein can be achieved at [email protected].