RFM Corp, IGLO launch logistics service provider

President Arroyo inaugurated yesterday the largest, most modern and fully-integrated, temperature-controlled logistics service provider in the country, IGLO Philippines, Inc., a joint venture by food and beverage conglomerate RFM Corp. and its Malaysia-based partner, IGLO International, Ltd., formed two years ago during the President’s state visit to Malaysia.

The inauguration, held at the Manggahan Industrial Light Park in Pasig City, marked the formal start of operations of IGLO Philippines that will increase the quality level of fresh, chilled and frozen food products that reach the consumer.

After unveiling the market to inaugurate the new plant, the President put on a thermal jacket – as protection from the 27-degree (Celsius) temperature in the plant –and switched on the button to officially signal the start of operations of the cooling plant.

The President then made a tour of the plant, after which she viewed and sampled the different RFM products displayed in booths along the building’s foyer.

During a briefing, IGLO Philippines president Raymond de Graaf informed the President that the continuous cold-chain facility would enable Philippine growers and processors to preserve the quality of their products from the farm to the manufacturing plants up to delivery to the retail outlets.

"It will also minimize spoilage and nutrients loss in food products, and enable these to meet global quality standards for exports," he said.

RFM president and chief executive officer Jose Concepcion III, who also serves as chairman of IGLO Philippines, said the new plant has a 9,000-pallet capacity and is controlled by computerized refrigeration and inventory management systems. It features automated dock boards equipped with inflatable dock seals to maintain the desired temperature.

"This is in keeping with RFM’s commitment to raise the quality of food for the Filipino," Concepcion said."

The joint venture will operate as a third-party logistics service provider, offering comprehensive and customized storage and distribution for fruit and vegetable producers, cattle and hog breeders, meat and poultry processors, fishermen, dairy and ice cream manufacturers, fast-food operators, supermarkets, wholesalers, and other businesses whose products require a sustained temperature range of anywhere between positive 16 to negative 30 degrees Celsius.