Splash int’l food biz rises 25%

MANILA, Philippines - The international food business of personal care manufacturer Splash Corp. continued its strong performance in the first quarter on the back of improved distribution network and product lineup.

Splash Foods Corp. targets higher sales in the Middle East and North America even as it further increases its distribution network, the company said in a statement.

International sales of Splash Foods jumped 25 percent in the first quarter, continuing its growth from last year when food sales picked up 15 percent for the entire 2013.

The improvement was driven mainly by the “larger network of distributors with the accreditation of several in-country distributors in the Middle East, and the rapid revenue development in the North American and Australian markets,” said Splash Foods president Ace Vincent Villa-Real.

It also benefited from greater acceptance in the Middle East given the qualifications in safety protocols and halal certification for its Barrio Fiesta shrimp paste, Tubasuk spiced coconut vinegar and Moondish products, he added.

For this year, Splash expects robust growth for Barrio Fiesta and Moondish brands in the Middle East and North America by increasing its distribution network and implementing more consistently its brand activations.

Splash said it will also optimize the product mix by redirecting the portfolio toward high-margin products and reducing production costs of its core product lines.