Ajinomoto mulls over 3rd Philippine factory
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine unit of Japanese multinational food company Ajinomoto is planning to establish another manufacturing facility in the country, according to its top executive.
Koichi Ozaki, president of Ajinomoto Philippines Corp., told reporters earlier this week they are considering the expansion as their existing plants in Bulacan and Cebu are nearing full capacity.
“So, we need to think about our future production strategy,” Ozaki said, adding that there was no definite timeline or location yet.
He added that they intend to make the decision within three to five years.
In addition to the two factories, Ajinomoto Philippines operates 26 sales stations nationwide.
The company also employs some 2,000 people across the country, according to Ozaki.
Double-digit growth
He said that their business in the country has been growing at a “more than double-digit” rate, amid the expansion of their business portfolio which now includes frozen and instant food products.
Ozaki expressed optimism that the company will maintain “stable growth” this year.
He said that the Philippines is one of Ajinomoto’s top markets in the company’s top five markets in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with Thailand leading the region.
Sustainability
With a promising outlook, the company is also strengthening its sustainability initiatives in the country.
READ: Ajinomoto sees strong growth in PH market amid sustainability push
Ozaki said that the company aims to cut its environmental footprint by half as part of its broader global goal to enhance the life expectancy of over a billion people by 2030.
Ajinomoto Philippines is actively addressing food loss and industrial waste by upcycling residual food waste into animal feed and transitioning to sustainable packaging.
The company has also partnered with ACEN Renewable Energy Solutions to fully power its manufacturing plants with solar energy, a move expected to cut carbon emissions by 5,000 metric tons yearly.
Ajinomoto Philippines has partnered with FAST Logistics and Mober Philippines to promote eco-friendly transportation, integrating a 100-electric tractor head with a 40-foot container van for warehouse transfers and a fully electric four-wheeler van for product deliveries.
