Cebu-based cosmetics firm to open P30M plant in 2016

CEBU, Philippines – GT Cosmetics Manufacturing targets to open its third plant by the first quarter of next year to reinforce the company’s entry to the international market.

The P30 million manufacturing plant, which will be located in Tayud, Liloan will boost the company’s production capacity by three-fold purposely intended to meet global standards.

To date, the company’s two existing plants in Liloan and in Bulacan, Manila manufactures over 705,160 thousand across all product lines.

GT Cosmetics founder and chief operating officer Leonora B. Salvane said the opening of the third plant will help the company meet the increasing demand from the overseas market.

However, even before the company could official open its third plant to boost its export segment, Salvane said the company already worked on the required quality certifications abroad like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seal from the United States, and Halal certification in Muslim countries.

In 2013, the company spent over P20 million to set up its manufacturing plant in Manila, to serve the growing demand in the National Capital Region.

Salvane said part of the company's preparation to face the international competition head-on is to get an ISO certification.

Now in its 21st year, GT Cosmetics plans to harness the opportunities in the emerging markets in the ASEAN, and in Asia in general.

Salvane is a Cebuana chemical engineer known as one of the successful entrepreneurs who managed to enter the supposedly "suffocating" competition in the beauty business, with marketplace overly flooded with products and brands that offer instant result of beauty enhancements.

GT Cosmetics was recently awarded as the best countryside company by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Bulk of its market penetration is from Visayas and Mindanao, with growing "satisfied" users in Luzon, as well as other countries like Japan, Korea, China, Finland, Australia, Canada and the United States.

Moreover, Salvane said the decision to bravely conquer the global market starting with the ASEAN member countries, is also fueled by the invitation of SM-owned wellness retail chain Watsons to gear up to expand with them in the ASEAN territory.

Watsons is GT's high performing retail partner in the country, Salvane said. Now, Watsons is also the company's gateway to enter the global market in full blast.

Before the year ends, the company will introduce a new line of products like fragrances, deodorant, body wash, among others.

In the Philippines, GT beauty products are distributed nationwide through Watsons, SM Supermalls, Robinsons Malls, Metro Malls, Mercury Drug, and Prince Hypermart chains, and a number of retail partners in United States and Canada.