MEKENI IN QATAR. Filipinos based in Doha can now have a taste of home as Mekeni Food Corporation brings its meat products to Qatar. The launching was made during the recent celebration of Philippine Independence Day celebrations. Mekeni’s food was visited by hundreds of Filipino workers and their families, vloggers and influencers, Filipino diplomats and tourists. .
Homegrown food manufacturer Mekeni Food Corporation is marking this year with another milestone as it brings its hotdog, tocino, and longanisa products to Qatar.
Mekeni will be offering Halal Picnic Hotdog, Chicken Tocino, and Chicken Longanisa at Asian stores across the country beginning in July this year, as announced by Mekeni during the Philippine Independence Day Celebration in Doha, Qatar.
Mekeni Food Corporation (Mekeni) President and CEO Pruds Garcia (3rd from left) welcome Consul General Cassandra Sawadjaan (3rd from right) of Qatar Consulate General at the booth of Mekeni during the recent celebration of Philippine Independence Day in Doha, Qatar. L-R are Jennifer Marie Tungol of Super Future Venture; Annaliza Diet, Founder/CEO, Philippine International Institute; Marilou Olalia-Uy, AVP for HR and Exports, Mekeni; Leigh Castillo, Manager, Corporate Communications.
“To offer Halal products in Qatar has been on our export plan for quite a while now, and we are fortunate to fulfill it this year through partnerships with local manufacturers,” said Mekeni AVP for HR and Exports Marilou Uy.
Mekeni President Pruds S. Garcia said one reason Mekeni intends to bring its products to the Gulf country is the sheer number of Filipinos there. According to Qatar Visa Center, the Gulf country is home to approximately 250,000 Filipinos.
MEKENI IN QATAR. Filipinos based in Doha can now have a taste of home as Mekeni Food Corporation brings its meat products to Qatar. The launching was made during the recent celebration of Philippine Independence Day celebrations. Mekeni’s food was visited by hundreds of Filipino workers and their families, vloggers and influencers, Filipino diplomats and tourists. .
“From a business perspective, there is a huge potential because the market is already there. As a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) in Saudi Arabia, I still vividly recall how overseas Filipinos miss home, especially the food. This is why we worked this plan out until it is realized,” said Garcia.
MEKENI IN QATAR. Filipinos based in Doha can now have a taste of home as Mekeni Food Corporation brings its meat products to Qatar. The launching was made during the recent celebration of Philippine Independence Day celebrations. Mekeni’s food was visited by hundreds of Filipino workers and their families, vloggers and influencers, Filipino diplomats and tourists. .
He continued, “When the borders were closed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we realized that we are in a position to bring our kababayans closer to home. Being with their families is different, but we are hopeful our products can somehow fill the void of missing home.”
Garcia added that they are optimistic that the Filipino community will be delighted to see and taste their products again, just like when Mekeni products were launched in the US.
MEKENI IN QATAR. Mekeni Food Corporation (Mekeni) President and CEO Prudencio Garcia (seated, left) and Hassan Alkhiyami, CEO, Alwatania International Holdings (Alwatania) sign a commercial agreement for the processing, distribution and marketing of Mekeni meat products in Doha, Qatar. Witnessing the signing are: (L-R) Gaith Al Khayatt, General Manager Doha National Food Industries, WLL. (DNFI); Leigh Castillo, Manager, Corporate Communications, Mekeni; Marilou Olalia-Uy, AVP for HR and Exports, Mekeni; Aravind Kumar, Trade Marketing Manager, Qatar National Import and Export, WLL. (QNIE); Tojo Thomas, Retail Manager, QNIE; Moutaz Korjo, Commercial Director, QNIE; Ahmad Alkhattan, Marketing Manager, DNFI. Alwatania is the holding company of both DNFI and QNIE.
Another reason behind this export move, according to Garcia, is Mekeni’s desire for the world to have a taste of #TimplangAtin.
“We are hopeful that Qatar locals will also like and patronize our hotdog, tocino, and longanisa, not only because they are Halal but also because these are formulated following world-class standards and with different taste preferences in mind,” he said.
Mekeni soft-launched its export business as early as 2011 when it first shipped products to Dubai. This and its international food safety and quality awards jumpstarted its global journey.
MEKENI IN QATAR. Filipinos based in Doha can now have a taste of home as Mekeni Food Corporation brings its meat products to Qatar. The launching was made during the recent celebration of Philippine Independence Day celebrations. Mekeni’s food was visited by hundreds of Filipino workers and their families, vloggers and influencers, Filipino diplomats and tourists. .
Aside from Qatar, Mekeni products are also available in the US, the UAE, Canada, Australia, Bahrain, Brunei, The Netherlands, and New Zealand.
“We are very pleased and grateful to forge reliable partnerships that help increase Mekeni’s footprint across the globe, and we look forward to bringing more products here and beyond,” concluded Garcia.
