Lacto Pafi all set to play in the worldwide arena

Although the company had already started its export venture a few years back, initially penetrating France, Norway, Australia and New Zealand, LPTRI president and chairman of the board Greg G. Sanchez said the company now knows no limit in crossing continents.

"We are already 'borderless'. We have crossed continents and still looking for new horizons. There is still wide, wide world out there," Sanchez said.

LactoBaccilus is a Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) approved alternative health drink, which contains pre-biotic bacteria that strengthens the body's immune system.

"The world is still too big for us. There is much space and opportunity for those who dare," Sanchez said.

He emphasized that the company has not rested on its successes. "We still go into research to better our products. Another reason is that we have diversified. We did not place our eggs in one basket. We have a wide range of products - from food supplements to foot care. And, Lacto Pafi is part of an expanding network of nine other companies.

Few years back, the company invested at least P70 million to build a bigger manufacturing plant to accommodate increasing local and international demands.

The bigger plant was established in order to cope with the ballooning demand for its health drink product not only from the local market, but also overseas.

He said the bigger plant in Catarman, Liloan, Cebu situated at a 1.7 hectare area, paved the way for increase production per day to as much as 200,000 to 300,000 bottles a day.

Because of the rapid growth of its products, Sanchez said the company is facing another challenge to fight with the product imitators in the market, which ate up 10 to 15 percent of its market share.

The alternative medicine industry in other countries is considered as the fast growing sector, while in the Philippines, the government has not given much importance to this (yet), he earlier said.

This Cebu-based company is chosen as one of the finalists in the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of Year (Philippines) which will be held on March 8 at Makati Shangri-la Hotel.

Sanchez believes that wealth is within the reach of everybody. "Majority of the Filipinos are average or below average or downright belong to the Philippine jungle of poverty."

In the past, he said only landed people, those with extraordinary talents like Manny Pacquiao or Sharon Cuneta, or CEOs of conglomerates can be millionaires.

"Today, wealth is within the reach of all. If entrepreneurship were availed of by average Filipinos, then our nation's wealth will be a real pyramid. This is real people empowerment," he added.