Portion Pak’s launch new soap plant
An innovative Fiji company has finalised its pioneering project to create its Fijian Made guest amenities including Fiji-sourced ingredients.
Portion Pak’s launched its purpose-built soap plant worth $230, 000 on November 8, is the “final piece in the puzzle” that ensures the Pacific Islands’ hotel and hospitality industries can now source toiletries and skincare ranges where everything from the natural, locally-sourced botanical ingredients to the bottle they’re packaged in is manufactured on the island.
The plant’s introduction means that, as well as Portion Pak’s two island-focused ranges – Fiji Soap Co and [Pacifics] Pina Colada Collection – 10 other guest amenities brands will also be made on site, using Fiji-sourced ingredients. General Manager Sales & Marketing Jimi Kennedy-Grant said during peak 2018 season the plant was capable of creating 37,500 soaps a day.
He said, “We have always been driven by our branding ‘Made in Fiji’ and this new soap machine now means that, in terms of our toiletries ranges, everything that can be manufactured in Fiji, really is being manufactured i n Fiji.” “With record numbers of people visiting Fiji and now more than 860,000 arrivals every year, it’s never been more important to offer an authentic island experience – right down to having a genuine taste of the islands in their guest amenities.
“So, by investing in Fiji we have not only created a better range of locally-made guest amenities, but also ensured that they are better value and helped promote local industry and local botanical ingredients,” added Mr Kennedy-Grant.
Success story
Portion Pak is already a Fiji business success story. It has grown significantly over the past 16 years to employ 11 people and has more than doubled manufacture over the past 18 months to around 10 million units per year.
Significant investment has led to the creation of two new jobs and the upgrade of its purpose-built factory in Malolo, Nadi.
The company has added the soap machine to its wet room, mixing room and bottling line to create a totally Fiji-made range of shampoos, conditioners, body wash and body balms for daily deliveries to Nadi and Coral Coast resorts and accommodation, and weekly deliveries to Suva.
New products
Having finalised this stage of soap manufacturing to ensure organic coconut oil from Savusavu now goes into every bar of soap, Portion Pak can also announce it is working towards launching three exciting new innovations for its toiletries ranges which will help promote local initiatives and ecofriendly partnerships:
premium range that combines organic Savusavu coconut oil with traditionally-made sea salt from Lomawai Village, used for its exfoliating properties.
further partnership with our sources of Savusavu coconut oil to introduce milled coconut fibre as an environmentally friendly option for exfoliation.
used soap recycling charity (based on the success of our New Zealand-based “Back to Base” scheme) that will allow the hygienic collection of used soaps from our customers to be recycled for use in orphanages, rest homes and prisons.
Meanwhile, Portion Pak is Fiji’s leading supplier of island-sourced and manufactured products to the Pacific Islands’ hotel and hospitality industries.
As well as guest amenities, the company’s expertise also includes packing laundry and dishwashing powder, Fijian sugar and honey and blending drinking chocolate.