26 Filipino Firms, ALAFOP Bag Over USD51M Export Sales in SIAL Paris 2018

Twenty-six Philippine companies bagged more than USD 51 million dollars of export sales from nearly 600 foreign buyers in the country’s participation in the recently held Salon International de I’Alimentation (SIAL) at the Paris Nord Villepinte in Paris, France,last October 21-25.

Led by the Department of Trade and Industry through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM), the Philippine delegation in Paris showcased some of the country’s top food sectors namely marine and seafood, processed fruits and snacks, and healthy and organic products.

“The Philippines biggest delegation in SIAL Paris has also generated the highest export sales so far in its years of participation in the event,” said DTI-CITEM Executive Director Pauline Suaco-Juan.

“The country’s strong showing in SIAL signifies that the Philippines is ready to captivate the palates of Europeans and other buyers around the world with our tropical food products and exquisite flavor profiles,” she added.

SIAL Paris is the second largest food show in the world after Anuga. Seven thousand two hundred exhibiting companies participated in the five-day show from 119 countries in its recent edition, showcasing 400,000 products. It was attended by more than 310,000 buyers and professionals, welcoming 135 official delegations and 26 top government representatives.

Among the country’s best-selling products and commodities were coconut varieties (desiccated, VCO, chips, flour, skimmed milk and macapuno balls), tuna, banana (chips and dehydrated), mango (dried), corned beef, ice cream, pili nuts, corn bits and other snacks and confectioneries.

“We were overwhelmed with the huge interest in our food group from Laguna as they showcased unique mixes of popular superfoods with products like macapuno balls, dehydrated banana and elongated banana chips, coco-turmeric and green coffee extract. The coconut-mango vinegar from Cebu was also noticed,” Suaco-Juan noted.

Philippine food tailored for Parisian palate

ALAFOP President Clarke Nebrao met with Philippine Ambassador to France Theresa Lazaro and DTI ASEC Demphna Du-Naga.

To better showcase Philippine products in Paris, the delegation conducted a series of cooking demonstration that featured creative recipes on how Filipino food and ingredients can be used in European dishes.

Presenting the highlights of the FoodPhilippines pavilion, Filipino Chef Beatriz Nitard has sampled déclinaison tuna adobo with cherry tomatoes, fresh dill and chives; aperitif dinatoire tuna salad with rehydrated mango-pipèrade salsa, high-grade calamansi extract and mango puree in basil vinaigrette; refreshing crème à l’impératrice with upscaled coconut powder & coco milk, coarse desiccated coconut and mango poppers pearls.

Chef Nitard also sampled French-style exotic bibingka or glazed tropical fruit cake using premium macapuno balls, glazed dried mango, papaya, pineapple, coconut jerky, semi-dried saba, with elongated banana chip scooper; the bright golden Bringhe Rice recipe using top-of-the-line turmeric powder and coconut milk with different sautéed product toppings; South Philippine bitter Chocolate bombs with olive oil and 12-herb turmeric-ginger spice; and homemade sports bars with bits of dried green and ripe mango, coconut jerky and coco nibbles, dried papaya and soursop, pineapple in raw sugar, unsweetened banana saba crispy flakes, chocolate bits, cacao nibs and vanilla condensed milk.

Crème à l’impératrice using coconut milk and mango popper pearls by Filipino-French Chef Bea Nitard.

“With the participation of our exhibitors, we were able to make recipes that demonstrated the versatility of Filipino food and ingredients for the day-to-day culinary requirements in Europe kitchens,” said Nitard.

“These cooking demonstrations not only promoted Filipino food to European buyers but also gave inspiration to our local companies on how they can better present their products to cater to the needs of the market,” the chef added.

Under the FoodPhilippines pavilion, companies that participated in SIAL for the first time included the Association of Laguna Food Processors; Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures, Inc.; LTH Food Industries; Snapsnax Ventures, Inc.; Amazing Foods Corp.; Cocoplus Aquarian Development Corp.; Edna and Rebecca’s; Escaba Food Products, Inc.; Filipinas Oro de Cacao, Inc.; Mira’s Turmeric Products; San Miguel PureFoods Company, Inc.; Phil-Union Frozen Foods, Inc.; and Terravida Natural Ventures.

Meanwhile, the companies that returned to SIAL Paris this year were Alliance Select Food; Amley Food Corporation; Andy Albao Corporation; Brandexports Philippines, Inc.; B-G Fruits and Nuts Manufacturing Corporation; Celebes Canning Corporation; Century Pacific Food, Inc.; GSL Premium Food Export Corp.; Seabest Food and Beverage Corporation; See’s International Food Mfg. Corp.; Seatrade Canning Corporation; Super Q; Profood International Corporation; and Prime Fruits International, Inc.

The participation in SIAL Paris 2018 is a branding initiative of CITEM to spearhead the efforts of the government in promoting the Philippines as a source of quality food products in the global market. It was undertaken in cooperation with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Paris and DTI Region 4-A CALABARZON.

For more information about the Philippine participation, visit www.citem.com.ph/sial.