Organic retail chain to open supermarket outlet in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Natural and organic retailer, Healthy Options, will soon open a supermarket in Cebu. This after the company opened its first supermarket concept in a 500 square meter store in Glorietta shopping mall in Manila.

Healthy Options chain managing director Romy Sia, however said the company is still looking for available space in Cebu. 

Sia said although Healthy Options had thought of expanding its product line to a grocery-type environment, Sia said shortage of organically-grown crops, vegetables and fresh meat is still a challenge.

The company currently imports 90 percent of its total product inventories, while 10 percent is sourced locally.   

For now, it is starting to partner with farmers in the country, encouraging them to grow vegetables and crops, and raise livestock organically.

"I want to support 'celebrity farmers' in the Philippines, and help recognize farmers who are pursuing this advocacy," Sia said explaining that if there are famous celebrity "chef", why not popularize "celebrity farmers?

Healthy Options chain, which started in 1995, now has 23 outlets, two of which are located in Cebu (Ayala Center Cebu and SM City Cebu).

With the opening of expanded Healthy Option stores, where wider array of organic and natural-based grocery products will be made available, Sia said the company aims at increasing its local product sourcing to 30 percent in five years.

Organic farm foods, crops planted and harvested by hand, nurtured only by sunlight, plus spring water and organic compost; animals raised in natural stress-free environment, eat all-natural diet, treated with care and respect, grown to optimum weight at their natural pace, slaughtered humanely and not subjected to mutilation or cruelty --  all these are produced without excessive waste or pollution, thus resulting in a healthier ecosystem.

Conventional farming usually applies chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth, spray insecticides to reduce pests and disease, use synthetic herbicides to manage weeds and give animals antibiotics, growth hormones and medications to spur growth and prevent disease.

At present, Healthy Options is partnering with at least five organic farmers like Ronald and Jose Costales of Laguna province.

"They’re totally committed to the healthier organic farming system. We have partnered with them so now we can offer their organic food products exclusively at our Healthy Options stores," added Sia.

With the growing controversy on imported contaminated product irresponsibly made to bloat profits, the Filipino market now is starting to realize the importance of responsible consumerism.  (FREEMAN)