It takes grit to succeed in the fitness industry, but GlutaLipo owners Leo Ortiz and Jeff Tan quickly found their niche, empowering people to reach their body goals
This is an excerpt from MEGA’s August 2024 Issue.
Opportunities are like grains of sand; if you don’t grip onto them, they could easily slip right out of your fingers. This is especially true in the health and fitness realm. With the oversaturation and competition in the market, it takes hard work and innovation to successfully carve a niche. However, entrepreneurs and life partners Leo Ortiz and Jeff Tan continue to rise above the challenges posed by the industry, successfully launching their line of detoxifying beverages, GlutaLipo. Established in 2016, the brand has been credited for making people’s health and fitness ideals more palpable.
In a tale of dreams, grit, and glory, GlutaLipo CEO Leo Ortiz shares how he and co-owner Jeff Tan turned an innovative concept into an empowering success story.
Enlightening Visions
As a registered nurse, Ortiz has always been a huge advocate of health and fitness. He used to volunteer at a public hospital, seeking to establish himself in the field. However, he was faced with shut doors instead. To make ends meet, he had to venture into multi-level marketing. This eventually led to him selling contact lenses online, with only a starting capital of PHP 2,500.
His efforts finally led to a breakthrough. Within 10 months, Ortiz saved his first million pesos, igniting his entrepreneurial spirit. He soon opened Rising Dragon Trading with Tan, the company behind GlutaLipo.
Awakened Purpose
“The personal challenges I faced with my own weight loss journey led to the conceptualization of Glutalipo,” Ortiz shared.
GlutaLipo came to fruition with the simple idea of providing palatable solutions to people with digestive or weight loss issues. Its signature flavored beverages are made for easy consumption and enjoyment while promoting gut health.
Although it struggled to find its footing initially, the undeniable quality of GlutaLipo products soon spread by word of mouth, even reaching celebrities. The brand has since seen significant growth, especially during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. As more people sought means to improve their health routines, GlutaLipo has expanded its reach to 20,000 distributors and resellers nationwide.
“Looking back, we are humbled that somehow, we have helped thousands of Filipinos in making ends meet during the pandemic and we hope to continue this accomplishment and legacy further with God’s grace and will,” Leo shared. Now, GlutaLipo continues its advocacy of promoting wellness by launching more health products and brands.
The Product of Manifestations
Eight years since their release, classic GlutaLipo products are among the brand’s bestsellers. Made of locally sourced ingredients, the GlutaLipo Lemon Iced Tea and Classic Coffee are infused with collagen and vitamins, promoting healthy guts and skin.
Recently, the brand launched the GlutaLipo Premium Organic Barley, which improves digestion and lowers cholesterol and blood sugar levels. These products quickly became beloved staples in people’s health and fitness journeys.
Future Plans
Despite the enormous success of their brand, Ortiz and Tan continue to chase avenues beyond the local landscape, hoping that this will bring livelihood opportunities to Filipinos.
Ortiz adds, “[We brought health and wellness solutions to Filipinos], we hope to do the same in other parts of the world by strengthening the Southeast Asia market in the next two years, and the Middle East and The Americas thereafter.”
Wrapping things up, Ortiz also emphasized their wish to expand their products and venture into other industries. “[We want] to instill that Filipino products are not only made by Filipinos for Filipinos but [also] for the world.”
Despite the trials and tribulations in life and business, Leo Ortiz and Jeff Tan managed to push through, clearing past dust clouds obstructing their future. Innovating a brand that brings health goals within reach, their detoxifying beverage line, GlutaLipo, is a clear manifestation of their dreams.
