CLARK FREEPORT – Even as it expands its global market, Mekeni Food Corporation continues to support local food industry and related services that thrive in the region.
Mekeni president Prudencio Garcia said the multi-awarded food processing company is supporting the One Pampanga Food and Beverage Expo (OPFBEX) as the firm owes it to the community.
Garcia was guest at KapiHann media forum of the Pampanga Press Club in Swissotel Clark at Hann Casino Resort. He was joined by OPFBEX Lead Convenor and Chef Felix Asuncion, and event organizer and convenor Chie Basco.
“We are now moving in the global arena, we want to show that Mekeni is not just about hotdogs or tocino or longganisa. There must be something (else). Mekeni is not just about what we have achieved as a company but more on what we can contribute to the community. This is more important to us,” said Garcia.
The Porac-based company which is turning 40 years in operation next year was started as a backyard business by teacher-couple Felix and Meding Garcia. It hurdled major challenges in the past decades such the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, the Asian currency crisis and bird flu scare.
“We want to showcase for small businesses, the start ups, we want to inspire them. Mahirap pero hindi imposible,” he said.
Mekeni products are now exported, manufactured and distributed in 23 countries, according to Marilou Olalia Uy, the company’s assistant vice president for exports and human resources.
They include meat products like its flagship Picnic Hotdog, tocino, longganisa and marine-based such as fish balls, squid balls and kikiam. In the Middle East, they produce and distribute Halal products.
“Our major markets are US and Canada and other places where there are concentrations of Filipinos abroad,” Uy said.
Their product market include Australia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Brunei, Papua New Guinea, Japan, EU- Netherlands, Italy, France, Ireland, Malta, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Cayman Islands, and New Zealand.
She said that Mekeni remains the only Philippine meat company that is allowed to export heat-treated products to Japan. After recently penetrating the Korea market, she added that there are plans to expand reach in the Asian region.
For his part, Asuncion said that the OPFBEX is tapping on the spectrum of players in the food industry especially those from local community.
“It is not just about food and beverage but the whole service in the ecosystem. One of our exhibitors are working with local farmers to provide microgreens,” Asuncion said.
“(There are) Farmers in culinary cook-off and they are also helping in ingredients we will be using. If you look at the exhibitors, its end to end, a full scale ecosystem,” he added.
The OPFBEX is set on September 13 and 14 at the SMX Convention Center at SM Clark complex. It is the very first food and beverage expo in Pampanga, a highly regarded culinary capital in the Philippines. It is expected to be the grandest food expo in Central Luzon region as it features not just exhibitors but major players in the food industry from renown chefs, food service providers, food manufacturers.
