‘Boy Bawang,’ other RP food firms to enter Alaskan market

Philippine food brands such as ‘Boy Bawang’ as "Mama Sita," "Gina," and "Cool Choice" are set to penetrate the Alaskan market with the help of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The DTI is undertaking a promotion of Philippine food products in the American state of Alaska.

According to a report by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Silicon Valley, Philippine-made food products used to be marketed only in Filipino stores in areas largely populated by Filipinos in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

"Today, leading mainstream supermarkets like Safeway, Albertson’s, Costco and other oriental markets have carried Philippine-made food products in their shelves that contributed to their clientele’s increased awareness for these products. It also created a niche in their internationally accepted Asian products," the PTIC reported.

Special Trade Representative Ma. Roseni Alvero informed the DTI home office that a Philippine in-store food promotion was conducted last August 5 and 6, 2006 at the New Sagaya Markets in Anchorage, Alaska.

"The New Sagaya markets is one of the leading mainstream food outlets that carries the widest range of ethnic foods in Anchorage, Alaska," Alvero said.Three Filipino food importers/distributors namely B.F.Imports, Camtrade Enterprises, and Marigold Corp. (Mamasita) showcased Filipino products ranging from juices, snack foods, condiments to processed canned foods with such Philippine known brands as "Mama Sita," "Gina" "Boy Bawang," "Cool Choice," etc.

Part of the in-store promotion was a food tasting and sale at special introductory prices. Food/trade buyers were able to sample and explore the uses of the featured food products which could also be adapted by other ethnic and mainstream markets.

The Philippines exports about $500 million food products annually to the United States. The State of Alaska is home to an estimated 22,000 Filipino–Americans, half of which reside in Anchorage.