DTI sets competition to encourage food firms to improve packaging

CEBU, Philippines - To boost competitiveness in the very stiff global market, local food companies are urged to improve its packaging innovation.

Because of this, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) announced the implementation of 2011 Trendy Award Competition to search innovations in content and packaging of new food products and applications.

The newly announced search also includes products that exemplify successful adaption to consumer lifestyle and preferences as well readiness for local and international market requirements.

"The Trendy Award will encourage food manufacturers to develop new product concepts and packaging solutions that cater to the demands of the global market. The increasingly competitive economic environment challenges us to continually expand and update our range of products to meet and anticipate our clients' needs," said Rosvi C. Gaetos, Executive Director of CITEM in a statement.

The competition is a component of the 8th International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines, the largest and most comprehensive food event in the country held recently.

The competition is open to all Philippine-based food manufacturers, suppliers, traders, and consolidators participating in the 8th IFEX Philippines who have either successfully developed new products that have not been introduced to the market, or who have existing products that have been enhanced or improved in either form, packaging, formulation, or application.

Entries for 2011 will be judged according to the following criteria: newness of the idea, product innovation, packaging design and innovation, and market demand.

The entries will undergo a preliminary screening process by a technical screening committee composed of food industry and packaging experts from the Department of Science and Technology-Packaging Technology Division (DOST- PTD), the Food Development Center (FDC), the Bureau of Export Trade Promotions (BETP,) the Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC), and the San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation (SMYPC). Final evaluation of qualified entries will follow from a panel of well-known chefs, culinary school representatives, food writers, and food enthusiasts, including Lumen herself.

Past Trendy awardees include Via Mare (2000's laing can foil container), Bote Central (2005's coffee alamid), Orient Foods Corporation (2008's chewy fruit bar), and Anjo's Farm (2009's Global Citation for microwavable bangus or milkfish), to name a few.

"The Trendy award gave us credibility as a company, and posed more challenges for us to come up with better products. It's an award to be proud of," said Vie Reyes, proprietor of Bote Central, 1st place winner of the 2005 Trendy award for coffee alamid or civet coffee.

Civet coffee, one of the most expensive coffee varieties in the world, comes from the beans of coffee berries eaten by civet cats or alamids.— (FREEMAN)