Philippine market sales of Acai Berry up 20%

CEBU, Philippines - One of the world’s leading antioxidant drinks, “Acai Berry” posted a 20 percent increase in sales in the Philippines, as Filipinos started to recognize the efficacy of the drink.

Only introduced in the Philippine market in May last year, Organique Inc., the exclusive distributor of the product attributed the increase of sales to the growing awareness of the market for health and wellness.

Although, bulk of the sales is still dominated by the Metro Manila market, Organique Inc., president Catherine Salimbangon told The Freeman yesterday that Cebu is “catching up” while products are now made available in all branches of Watsons, Rose Pharmacy, Health Express, among others.

Salimbangon said the company, which is headquartered in Cebu is currently negotiating for more retail chains like Three Sixty, and retail online discount store in the Philippines—Ensogo.com.ph.

Recently, Watsons just released an article commending the drink as its “top pick” health drink this year. There were only three products named by Watsons, others are slimming products, said Salimbangon.

“Today’s complicated and stressful lifestyle, coupled with the polluted environment, everybody has to take pure health supplement and would genuinely provides anti-oxidants that work more effectively than the synthetic products,” said Salimbangon.

Personally, endorsed by Oprah Winfrey, the Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) berry, claimed to be one of the most nutritious and healthiest beverages in the world, Salimbangon said.

Manufactured in California, USA the Acai Premium Blend is from the small grape-sized berry that grows in the Amazon Rainforest of Brazil. Historically, natives of the region have harvested this berry as part of their diet for hundred years.

Unlike most health-drink supplements available in the market today, which are distributed via networking system, the Acai Berry juice is made available in traditional retail outlets.

The manufacturer of Acai Berry is one of the only four certified organic processing companies in California, USA.

According to Salimbangon, despite the relatively high cost of the drink which an over liter costs P2,500, the company is confident that the product will hit the market, because of its efficacy.

However, the company was able to introduce another juice blend, with the same efficacy value to as low as P1,600 per one liter. She said the introduction of the new blend is expected to push further growth of the product in the Philippines in the next few months.

At present, the product is made available in over 500 stores nationwide, including SouthStar Drug chains, Watsons, and health and wellness outlets, like the Health Express in Ayala Center Cebu and SM City Cebu shopping malls.

Unlike other health drink supplements that claim a ‘cure-all” advantage, Salimbangon stressed that Acai on the other hand, is promoting only prevention of possible sickness brought about by unhealthy environment, and food intake.— (FREEMAN)