‘Asia’s Best’ chicken: The untold story

MANILA, Philippines - Now it can be told: the success story of Bounty Fresh Food Inc. (BFFI) would not have been possible had it not been for the vision and commitment of its people.

Under the leadership of its president, Tennyson Chen, and with the dedication of the Bounty staff, the vision to serve “Asia’s Best” chicken to Filipinos, was built.

The company has grown leaps and bounds, evolving to become the most technology-savvy and innovative company with regard to its production line.

Its multiple accolades, both national and regional, especially quality certifications from international certifying bodies, serve as testaments to BFFI’s commitment, and the diligence of its people. These practices have become the benchmark of the local poultry industry and helped local producers look at the industry from a different perspective.

“Admittedly, we knew nothing about the chicken business. We had to learn everything from scratch. The challenge in front of us when we started was really daunting, but we were determined to pull it off no matter what,” admits Chen, an industrial engineering graduate from De La Salle University.

But with a persistent and determined stand, BFFI faced the challenges head-on. Though most local integrators chose to stick to what they thought are tried-and-tested practices, it took a different route, challenging the old system and forging new techniques to find ways to access new markets and to be more efficient.

In 2000, the company brought in pioneering technologies and built the first single-stage hatchery to the country. It also improved sanitation and bio-security protocols within the facility, allowing it to produce chicks that are pathogen-free, healthier and stronger.

The company also invested in automated dressing technology. Before, it took them one day to dress 1,000 chickens; now it is able to churn out more than 6,000 chilled chickens per hour.

And it does not stop there. Because of its conviction in producing the best chicken for Filipino families, BFFI was able to pass strict global standard certifications, particularly in terms of quality management systems, food safety management systems, environmental management systems, and occupational health and safety management systems.

Aside from global certifications, BFFI also established a reputation as the best in the business by being a grand slam winner for Best Meat Establishment (Poultry Dressing Plant “AAA” Category) from 2006 onwards (last held in 2009), as awarded by the National Meat Inspection Service of the Department of Agriculture.

But the defining moment for Bounty Fresh Group’s efforts toward quality production was when it won the Asian Livestock Industry Awards in 2009, under the “Emerging Poultry Integrator” category, thus the term “Asia’s Best” was coined.

Winning the award, given every two years by acknowledged industry experts in the region, further cemented BFFI’s reputation as one of Asia’s leading poultry integrators, beating out other more established companies from different countries in the region, and bringing pride to the Philippines as well.

Despite these landmark achievements, BFFI keeps on dreaming big with a host of new products and product improvements: Bounty’s dressed chicken with the innovative tamper-proof and vacuum-sealed packaging, and first-to-market free-range chicken (Bounty Fresh Pollo Primero) naturally grown in free range farms, just to name a few.

In the drawing board is a next-generation feedmill that will complement its existing one in Tarlac, already considered best in its class, plus an even more advanced hatchery.

“Definitely, we will not stop growing just because we are already big. I still believe that modernization should not stop. We are still looking for groundbreaking technologies that will help push the level of quality in our production and of course, more dedicated people who share our dream of being the best. Through our people and technology, we will keep moving forward,” Chen says.

For more on Bounty Fresh and its range of top-quality chicken products, go to www.bountyfreshchicken.com and www.facebook.com/bountyfreshchicken.