Philippine company is ‘best-kept secret’ of global chocolate brands

By: Pia Lorraine V. Yater
(Written as a corporate Press Release for the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions' IFEX Philippines 2010 Event)


For local company, Primex Coco Products Inc. manufacturer of coconut by-products success is sweet when you know the right market for your products.

“Our company is an accredited supplier of big chocolate and confectionary companies all over the world,” said Fatima Velasco, Marketing Manager of Primex Coco. “Popular brands with the likes of Masterfoods, Hersheys, Cadbury, Arnotts, Ferrero Rocher, Nestle, and Kraft source their coconuts needs from Primex,” she added.

Primex Coco is a family owned corporation that ventured into coconut business because of the abundance of coconut in Candelaria, Quezon, a municipality south of Manila. From its simple beginnings the company now has manufacturing plants based in Quezon and in Davao.

“We export our products to all parts of the world but our biggest client is the European market,” Velasco added. Because of the large market share that they enjoy the company is considered as the biggest supplier of desiccated coconut in the world.

Since 1991, Primex Coco produces 24,000 metric tons of world-class desiccated coconuts for discriminating customers across the globe. Their product expertise, state-of-the-art equipment and committed staff of 1,300 who adhere to the strictest sanitary conditions, have yielded multi-granulated desiccated coconut that carry the mark of global excellence.

Known for their delectable products derived from coconuts, Primex Coco will once again let the world taste the difference of Philippine made food brands as they join the Philippine participation to the 2010 edition of Gulfood Dubai this February 21-24.

“This is our 3rd participation to Gulfood and it’s an excellent venue since the visitor profile of the fair is not limited to Middle East buyers only. Through our participation in Gulfood we even met a good buyer from Uruguay,” shared by Velasco.

Aside from the coconut by-products, Primex Coco is also expanding to other products such as coconut milk powder and banana chips.

The Philippine participation to Gulfood 2010 is led by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), to promote the Philippines as a major source of quality food in Asia and to maintain old and develop new relationships with the big players in the region.

“CITEM gave us the opportunity to meet buyers in one venue, thus we enjoyed global exposure while being cost-efficient,” Velasco shared when asked about the assistance of CITEM in joining international trade fairs.

CITEM will also promote the country’s trade show for food, the International Food Exhibition Philippines (IFEX). IFEX Philippines is the country’s premier trade event for quality and delectable food ideas scheduled on 6-8 May at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, Pasay City.

Gulfood is the Middle East’s leading food event and strategic business platform for the major movers of the food industry. Manufacturers, distributors and suppliers from different parts of the globe are represented in this world-class gathering of the key sectors of the food industry.

The Philippines’ food and beverage industry also identified consumer trends to help Filipino food brands cope with the demand of the market. Consumers now look for various products that comply with food safety regulations and standards, like Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and Fair Trade to name a few. Patrons also prefer food options that tap emerging specialized markets, with the likes of Kosher, HalaL among others, while other factors considered by the market today are convenience, (ready to eat, ready to drink and ready to cook), cheap (sachets, single served), better packaging and healthy, natural or organic foods.

The Philippine food exporters have an edge over other competing countries in the Middle East market since UAE is also a home for thousands of immigrant Filipino workers which serve as ready market for Philippine food products.

Primex Coco will be joined by 11 other local food exporters and manufacturers, they are: Celebes Canning Corporation, (canned tuna); Florence Foods Corp., (fermented marine products, veggie noodles and frozen products); FCG Trading Philippines Inc., bottled tropical fruit preserves, sauces and mixes, condiments, dried noodles, confectioneries and snacks, dried fish, frozen vegetables, health and personal care products; Global 88 Intl. Trading Corp., (mixes, condiments and seasonings); Mega Fishing corporation, (sardines); Monde Nissin, (noodles, biscuits and crackers); Market Reach International, (processed foods); Atson-Tropicana Food Products Inc., (nuts and coconuts); Ngosiok Marketing, (Super Q noodles); Q-Phil products International, (noodles, sauces and condiments and marine products) and Oceanic Exports Inc., (snack foods, sauces and condiments, and processed fruits).

For information, log on to www.ifexphilippines.com/gulfood2010

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