Philippines exceeds sales goal at Japan food fair

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine firms generated $45.5 million from its participation at Japan’s premiere food trade show, the International Food and Beverage Exhibition or FOODEX, exceeding the $17.9 million target set by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

In a statement, the DTI said the export sales of the 16 local companies that participated at FOODEX Japan held last March 5 to 8, came from more than 300 buyers.

Local companies part of the exhibit are Agrinurture Inc.; Amley Food Corp.; Avante Agri-Products Philippines Inc.; Celebes Coconut Corp.; CJ Uniworld Corp.; Coconut Cures Inc.,/Mindanao Pacific Coconut Coop.; Grand Asia Integrated Natural Coco Products Corp; GSL Premium Food Export Corp.; Leonie Agri Corp.; Prime Fruits International Inc.; Profood International Corp.; Seabest Food and Beverage Corp; and See’s International Food Mfg. Corp.

“The results of our participation have significantly surpassed our initial target of $17.9 million,” DTI Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM)  executive director Pauline Suaco - Juan said.

She said tuna, fresh and processed tropical fruit products as well as other organic products accounted for bulk of the sales.

Tropical fruits featured by Philippine firms  include banana, coconut, durian, papaya, pineapple and mango.

Also highlighted were organic food, cakes, shrimps and crabs, as well as powdered juice drinks of other locally grown herbs.

FOODEX Japan which is considered one of Asia’s largest exhibitions focused on food and drinks, serves as a major gateway to the Japanese market.

This year’s edition of FOODEX Japan welcomed over 3,300 local and international exhibitors, as well as more than 80,000 buyers from the food manufacturing, service, distribution, and trading sectors across the global food industry.

“Our participation in FOODEX continues to strengthen our country’s promotional and branding efforts in this vibrant and lucrative market. Japan’s enormous potential also continues to inspire our food producers and manufacturers to come up with innovative products that suit the Japanese market,” Suaco-Juan said.