What would I do if you were in my shoes?

=) take it as a compliment and also take it as an "eye opener"... meaning you need to step your game up.

The food business is very competitive.

I remember when I was a student and eating in canteens...

and I would always choose something I was craving that day...

You have to have something the other booths don't have...

Since the other booth copied your fruit shake idea...

Your main priority is to make sure your

fruit shake better than theirs..

have more selection... and make it taste better..

think like a customer...

"why would i choose this fruit shake over the other fruit shake?"

another thing... you to have something enticing to the eye and also on the taste buds...

imagery and good food!

Also... keep an upbeat positive attitude because as a customer

I would want an A-class service...

The more you get to know your customers the higher the chances of

them having lunch at your canteen repetitvely... and the more they are

going to spread the word that you have the best canteen in that area. "word by mouth" is the best kind of advertisement!

"mabait sila at sobrang sarap yung fruitshakes nila"

hope this helps. Goodluck!

I don't blame for you for feeling a bit slighted at what you may think is a "betrayal" on your former employee's part, but don't feel too bad. Take it as a form of healthy competition. The key is to innovate and to create more original food ideas that your competitor won't be able to copy so easily. Since you love doing that, focus on that instead and not on the copycat canteen of the other department.

I guess that's just how life is. People like them will do anything to reach their goals. What more could you expect if your former worker is with them? Anyway I don't really know what to suggest but maybe, think of it this way: At least I'm original somehow. Being original is still different. Copycats usually end up to be mediocre. Remember one song of Francis M w/c says something like "Kung manggagaya lang, siguraduhing mas hihigitan pa ang kinopyahan." Because copycats are often the lazy type in my opinion. And since those good ideas came from you, you're the one who could come up with better ideas. But only "with enough effort".

Anyway there doesn't really have to be a contest, don't you agree? What's important is you're doing your job well for the sake of the people.

Just my thoughts. Hope this helped. :)

When you are in any business, be prepared for intense competition. This includes being cloned, just like the lechon manok syndrome where lechon manok booths mushroomed all over the metropolis after the success of the innovators.

Even if they imitate your recipes or your other offerings, just continue offering quality food AND excellent service. If they copy you, then just think that there's more where it comes from - - - - your head.

Your question should be, "what would you do if you were in my shoes"?

Take the fruit shake copying as a compliment. Competition in business, as in anything everything in life, is good for both your business and for your customers. The business that stays one step ahead of its competition makes the most money. Continue to look for new ideas to entice customers to your place, something the other guy does not have.

Start a rumor to ruin the other canteen.

Unless there is a legal contract that states no similar businesses are allowed in the vicinity, then their fruit shake stand is just and fair competition.

In addition, don't give yourself too much credit for thinking of it first, fruit shake stands aren't exactly original.

it's a free enterprise in the food business. but at least everyone knows you are the innovator and the other guy is the 2nd-rate copycat.

i'd like to suggest that you give names to items in your menu. for example, the fruitshake could be "mared's original shake".

more power to you.

Definitely you'll be having sore eyes when you know they copied you. take it as a compliment.

Just come out with new ideas, they can only copy once this way by employing your ex-worker ya. I'm sure you'll do better then people who use unscrupulous ways.

I would feel challenged and complimented. Competition is good because it makes you strive to be better than the rest. Working for progress is always good... just keep moving forward :-)