PH companies take on food trade in Paris

Philippine food firms are aiming to book $50 million in the upcoming 50th Salon International de l’Agroalimentaire (SIAL) Paris, described to be the world’s biggest food innovation trade.

The country’s participation in SIAL Paris this October is expected to help shore up Philippine food exports to the European Union, said the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem), the export promotions arm of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

As it is, the Philippines ranks 24th on the list of emerging markets of food and drinks for the European Union.

According to Citem, SIAL Paris is the perfect venue for participating local companies to test market new food products and validate their market acceptability.

Under the country’s collective brand Food Philippines, 20 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will showcase fresh foods and traditional products at the Parc des Expositions de Paris-Nord Villepinte.

“We aim to increase our market share in the region by meeting their demand for healthy, natural and specialty food products, and SIAL Paris is a perfect platform to build up our country’s food brand,” explained Citem executive director Rosvi C. Gaetos.

“Based on last year’s participation, an increased number of exhibitors and total sales in the show indicated the growing recognition of our distinct premium food exports in Europe. Our strategy now is to reinforce our country’s Food Philippines brand and our global standing as a top supplier of healthy products and tropical fruits,” Gaetos added.

In SIAL Paris 2012, the Philippine participation was deemed a huge success after local exhibitors garnered total combined sale of $20.6 million and received 229 business inquiries.

This reflected a 65-percent increase from the country’s participation in 2010, when it bagged $12.5 million sales.

Senen M. Perlada, director of the DTI’s Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), earlier said that the product focus for this food fair would be fresh and processed fruits, snack foods, coconut products, muscovado sugar, processed marine products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and “naturally functional” food products.

Also to be featured are those products registered under the Geographical Indications (GI) scheme, including the Dagupan Bangus, Tayabas Lambanog, Cafe Amadeo, Davao Pomelo, Batangas Kapeng Barako, Kalinga Highland Coffee, Bicol Pili Nuts, Mindoro Calamansi, Guimaras Mango, Davao Cacao and Cebu Dried Mango.

Perlada earlier said that the local food enterprises could also sit down companies from Switzerland at the SIAL Paris.

The same group will then head off to the United Kingdom and Germany for a trade mission, he added.

“We’re just going to provide opportunity for business matching of Philippines brands, what I will call at least locally iconic brands that can become international brands. We will help them find possible partners by way of franchising or maybe even joint venture,” Perlada had said.