Joseph Calata is a Filipino business tycoon, agricultural industrialist and philanthropist. He served as the Chairman/President and Chief Executive Officer of Calata Corporation, which was at one point one of the largest combined distributor of agro-chemicals, feeds, fertilizers, and seeds in the Philippines. Joseph was largely credited as the one being responsible for bringing his company into the elite group of Top 1000 companies in the country. At age 31, he became a following his company's initial public offering in the Philippine Stock Exchange. He also distinguished himself that time as the youngest chairman of a publicly listed company in the PSE.
Business beginnings
In 2001, shortly after graduating with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Commerce, Major in Management of Financial Institutions from the De La Salle University, Joseph joined J. Melvin's Trading, a small poultry feed retail store located in their hometown of Plaridel, Bulacan. During his early leadership, he introduced computerized innovations in their business such as adding accounting and inventory system, which later on proved to be instrumental in the growth of the company. Through his efforts and aggressiveness, the company added more retail branches. Joseph has become well known in the business industry after steering his Calata Corporation to steady growth and to become the largest distributor of agricultural products such as fertilizers, seeds, chemical and veterinary medicine in the country.
Early years
Joseph Calata was born and raised in Plaridel, Bulacan. He is the second son of four siblings of Eusebio and Isabel. His parents were middle-income business folks contented in running their small retail store. He attended a Catholic school for boys in Bulacan before taking up a business course at the De La Salle University. While still in college, he already joined a multi-level marketing or MLM that promote food supplements and multivitamins. Soon after graduation, Joseph opted to work on their small mom-and-pop store with a vision to grow the business and provide innovations in the agricultural industry.
Calata Corporation
The simple poultry retail store has become one of the giants in the agricultural industry. From purchasing its first company computer in 2001, to hiring their first salesman in 2002, the company's revenue grew to PHP 200 million in 2003. It was in 2006 when the company achieved its first billion in sales. In 2012, the company's revenue rose to as high as PHP2.2 billion paving the way for Calata Corporation's to gain entry to the Philippine Stock Exchange. During the company's initial public offering on May 23, 2012, Calata Corporation's market capitalization was PHP 2.7 billion. Calata Corp's stock price started at PHP 7.50 per share that day and even rose to PHP 23.95 per share before dropping to 11.2% lower than its initial price offering. On Nov 8, 2015, Calata Corporation achieved a Guinness World Record on the largest serving of roast pork beating Mexico's record. Held at the Liwasang Aurora, Quezon City Memorial Circle, this event also served as celebratory feast and an early Christmas treat for the less privileged residents of Metro Manila, as part of the company's 16th anniversary. This event was also the launching of a new business segment of Calata Corporation's meat business.
Controversy
On June 30, 2017, the Philippine Stock Exchange ordered a suspension in the trading of Calata corp shares citing disclosure violations. On Dec 11, 2017, Calata Corp has been ordered delisted by the PSE, a little over five years from its initial public offering. The involuntary delisting was made after the company was found to have incurred multiple violations of disclosure rules having failed to disclose numerous trade transactions over shares held by its officer. In January 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission upheld the PSE's delist order. The affirmation also entails perpetually banning Joseph Calata from being a director of any listed company.
