Philippine companies made combined sales of $58.2 million from the Anuga Food Trade Fair in Germany, the Department of Trade and Industry said Thrusday, noting the amount surpassed the goal for the year.
DEFood or Design for Exports Program for the Food Sector, which groups seven of the top Philippine
products, accounted for the bulk or $20.5 million of the sales generated during the largest food and beverage fair, Trade Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo Jr. noted in a statement.
"We have surpassed our target sales of $35 million for this year," the Trade official said.
"Also, this year's total sales is 66 percent higher compared to our sales during the previous edition of the Anuga," Manalo added.
Philippines sales from trade fairs abroad reached $35.1 million last year.
"In penetrating the European market, we are concentrating on bulk orders from the manufacturing sector by supplying semi-processed materials for their finished products," Manalanoted.
"We also supply products for established brands," he said.
DEFood consists of product development and branding, food packaging development and enhancement, alignment to market requirements, as well as promotion in local and international markets, according to the Trade Department.
The Philippine Premium 7 or the products included were coconut, pineapple, mango, banana, coffee, cacao, and tuna.
"This program supports small and medium scale food enterprises in developing products that will cater to the premium market," Manalo said.
"In creating the DEFood's Philippine Premium 7, our goal is to create and promote a Philippine brand for premium foods," he added. – VS
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