MSME food firms rack up 42% higher sales

A new batch of small and medium-sized food firms is now ready to conquer the export market following the positive outcome of last month’s national food fair, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

Trade Undersecretary Nora Terrado said the DTI-organized Sikat Pinoy National Food Fair 2016 generated sales of P16.75 million, up 42 percent from the P11.77 million total sales recorded last year.

Of the total amount this year, P13.42 million represented cash sales and booked orders while P3.32 million accounted for sales under negotiation.

Snack food, beverages and condiments were the top selling products with P12 million in revenues.

“Beyond the number of exhibitors or the gross value of transactions that we had, we also count among our achievements the opportunities that we have given to our food entrepreneurs,” Terrado said.

Terrado said the exhibitors’ products are now ripe for the export market and could be offered at international food fairs.

She said exhibitors during the previous fairs have successfully moved to the International Food Exhibition.

To become more competitive in the domestic and international market, the DTI is working to address the needs of entrepreneurs through product sensory evaluation, as well food packaging and labeling consultations.