Unilever PH sets sight on exporting halal products

After getting its halal certification earlier this year, Unilever Philippines is planning to export to Southeast Asia and Australia products manufactured in its massive factory in Cavite.

Company chair Benjie Yap told reporters on Thursday the firm invested P1.7 billion in the Unilever Cavite Foods Factory, which was to serve as the halal hub for Southeast Asia and Australia.

“We’re looking at exporting to Malaysia, which requires some halal products specifically. And we’re looking at expanding to other Muslim populations in Southeast Asia,” he said.

Although Unilever has already been exporting to these countries, he said this was the first time they would be exporting halal-certified products, a move which could help improve and expand their operations in the region.

“We cater to a wide variety of consumers, even in Muslim Mindanao where there are fellow Filipino Muslims. We want to make sure that we provide products for them and for other Muslim countries as well. Basically we want to provide a variety of choices for different individuals across the region,” he added.

Yap said Unilever Philippines owed most of its sales and production to local operations. About 70 to 80 percent of sales are made domestically, while the rest are via exports.

He said the company made below P80 billion in sales last year, sustaining a healthy growth in the past three to four years. He did not provide specific figures.

Unilever has also commenced construction of a 13.7-hectare distribution center in Laguna province, its largest in the country.

With full operations to start in October, the Laguna center would support the distribution and transport of products manufactured in the Cavite and Paco, Manila factories.

The company has three existing factories, with the other located in Pasig.