# From a Mercato Kid to a Next Big Food Entrepreneur

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-rj-ledesma-podcast-1290248/from-a-mercato-kid-to-a-next-big-food-entrepreneur
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-rj-ledesma-podcast-1290248/from-a-mercato-kid-to-a-next-big-food-entrepreneur.md
Podcast: [The RJ Ledesma Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-rj-ledesma-podcast-1290248)
Published: 2026-07-02T22:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://shows.acast.com/the-rj-ledesma-podcast/episodes/rjledesma-p-0083
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/619c28927a39a5001204707e/e/6a1e5134c1105f0d112fdc05/media.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-rj-ledesma-podcast-1290248/episodes/from-a-mercato-kid-to-a-next-big-food-entrepreneur
Duration seconds: 1563

## Resource

Some entrepreneurial journeys come full circle. When Simon Dayrit was growing up, he watched his parents build their business at Mercato Centrale. It wasn't just a weekend market—it was where they learned invaluable business lessons, grew as entrepreneurs, and helped provide for their family. Years later, Simon returned to the very same community—but this time as an entrepreneur himself. Armed with an engineering background, endless curiosity, and countless hours of self-study and experimentation, Simon created Agepan Fried Japanese Bread, a product that quickly became a viral sensation. His innovative take on Japanese fried bread not only won over customers but also earned 2nd Place at the Next Big Food Entrepreneur competition at Mercato Centrale. In this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast, Simon shares how he turned research into a remarkable food business, why understanding systems and continuous experimentation gave him an edge, and what it feels like to return to the place that first inspired his family's entrepreneurial journey. If you've ever dreamed of turning a simple idea into a thriving business, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Watch now on The RJ Ledesma Podcast. For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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## Transcript

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