MJ Marfori, partners toss hat into wellness ring   

Entertainment journalist and television host MJ Marfori has teamed up with entrepreneurs Marga Arenas Vargas, JR Marfori and Mikee Arenas to launch Gutta Glow, a Filipino functional beverage brand that aims to make wellness more accessible and easier to incorporate into everyday routines.  The four founders officially introduced the brand on Sept. 16 at The Rockwell Club in Makati City, bringing together their backgrounds in media, entertainment, marketing and business for a venture they had been developing for more than a year.  For Marfori, the business marks a new chapter beyond her work in journalism and television.  “I’m used to telling other people’s stories, but this time, the four of us are building our own. Gutta Glow is about taking care of yourself without making wellness feel like a chore. We wanted it to be something you can actually enjoy while navigating work, family, travel and everyday life,” Marfori said during the launch.  The idea took shape during the pandemic when the founders began discussing longevity, healthier routines and the need for products that could easily fit into everyday life.  JR Marfori said he and Vargas had worked together during the lockdowns and began thinking about how they could maintain a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.  The group eventually decided to develop its own product, embarking on a research and development process that lasted more than a year.  The founders said they divided the work according to their individual backgrounds. Vargas and MJ Marfori handle the brand and content side, while JR Marfori and Arenas focus on the business, marketing and numbers.  For JR Marfori, working with family was also an important part of the venture.  “We all have our roles and responsibilities. At the end of the day, I like to do business with family because I know we share the same set of values,” he said.  Gutta Glow’s initial product lineup includes Honey Lemon Iced Tea, French Vanilla Coffee and Spanish Latte. Depending on the variant, the products contain functional ingredients such as inulin, green tea extract, green coffee extract, L-carnitine, garcinia cambogia, berberine extract, Immuse LP20, hydrolyzed collagen, reduced L-glutathione, skim milk, whey protein and stevia extracts.  The founders said they wanted the products to retain familiar flavors while incorporating functional ingredients.  “We wanted something that’s easy on the pocket, palatable and portable,” JR Marfori said.  Taste was a major consideration during the development process, particularly for the coffee and iced tea variants.  The founders also emphasized convenience, saying the products can be prepared at home, brought to work or taken while traveling. They are sugar-free and contain 30 calories per sachet, while some variants contain ingredients such as whey protein and prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics.  “The benefits really set it apart. That’s why our battle cry is, ‘Drink smart and glow hard.’ You don’t have to compromise your health. It’s really easy, it’s so convenient and it’s so delicious,” Vargas said.  The founders said the products are FDA-approved and Halal-certified and that the brand has received recognition from Superbrands Philippines.  “This is just the beginning. We’re also trying out new products that fit the values and the mission of Gutta Glow,” they said.  The brand is available through its online channels, including Shopee, TikTok Shop, Instagram and Facebook.