Minda MSMEs bag awards in int'l food expo
PASAY CITY - Micro enterprises from Mindanao were recently recognized for their emerging and innovative food products during the International Food Exhibit (Ifex) Philippines held last week at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.
Baker's Field Enterprises of Zamboanga City won the Katha Award for Biscuits, Breads, and Pastries Category for its flavored biscocho, while Ellyne's Tuna Chicharon/Salmon Cracklings from General Santos City received the Katha Award for the Marine Products Category.
According to the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (Citem) website, Katha Awards Food is given to newly developed, locally-made food products and applications that meet the packaging design and innovation; product innovation; and market demand and readiness criteria.
First time Ifex Philippines exhibitor Fely Into, founder and manager for Ellyne’s Pasalubongs turned scrap tuna and salmon skin into a business venture that she started back in 2008. However, five months prior to this year’s Ifex Philippines, her almost decade-old production plant was taken down by fire, along with her residence.
"The main priority then was to rebuild the plant, not just for IFEX Philippines, but simply to get back to business as soon as we can," she said adding that hers is a story of a persistent and resilient micro entrepreneur. As a Katha awardee, Ellyne’s Pasalubong will get free space for the next Ifex show, as one of their prizes.
She further shared that her participation in Ifex, which was supported by the General Santos City government has opened newer and bigger opportunities for them.
"We have not tried exporting yet, but I know that our products have been brought in many countries already as pasalubongs," she said. Through the assistance of Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) One Town One Product Next Generation (Otop NextGen) Ellyne’s was able to shift from plastic pouch to foil packaging, which is deemed by Into as more export-ready.
Ester Perez, General Manager of Bakers Field Enterprises also launched her new canister packaging for her Halal certified biscocho in this year’s Ifex Philippines. Although it is her second year as Ifex exhibitor, this is her first time to win a national award for her flavored biscocho through the Katha Awards for food.
“I think what made us won the award is the many variants of biscocho that we have. The coffee variant, which is our entry for Katha is just one of the 20 variants I’ve already made,” Perez shared.
Biscocho de Zamboanga comes in flavors like cinnamon, chocolate, garlic, cappuccino, peanut, and turmeric.
Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) Secretary Datu Abul Khayr Alonto also lauds the positive results of the Ifex Philippines, particularly for the Mindanao enterprises.
Minda is the islandregion’s coordinating body for IFEX, and works alongside DTI and Citem, and the Department of Agriculture.
“The future remains bright for our MSMEs. Every year, we see products and services getting more diverse and creative, and based on the trend in this year’s Ifex, there is an emerging and promising demand for healthier and more natural food products,” Alonto said, adding that Minda will continually put the local producers and manufacturers at the forefront of their pursuit for enterprise development to make Mindanao more globally competitive. Treelife Coco Sugar, a company based in North Cotabato also won the Katha Award for Food Applications Category.
Ifex Philippines is the country’s largest international food show for Asia’s ethnic and specialty food products.