Pilmico pursues expansion in PH, Asia (Sabong News)
Author
Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat
Date
APRIL 26 2022
Pilmico Foods Corporation, the integrated agribusiness and food company of Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. (AEV), said it will continue expanding its feed milling capacities in Asia amid growing demand in the region and to complete construction for a new breeder farm to help ease supply of locally produced pork in the country.
Tristan Aboitiz, Pilmico president and CEO, said after that completing the feed mills last year in the Philippines and Malaysia, one of the priorities of the food group in 2022 is the expansion of the feed milling capacity in China and to finish the construction in Vietnam.
“These are regions where today we have a solid production base already, and we want to ensure that we continue to build on that in the coming years,” said Aboitiz.
Aboitiz noted that the growing demand for protein rich products in the region opens a lot of opportunities for more feeds to be produced and consumed across Southeast Asia.
These expansions, he said, should begin in the second half of this year as the company seeks to grow its volume across livestock, aqua and pet sectors.
On the food and nutrition side, Aboitiz said they are looking to complete the construction and loading of a new breeder farm in Nueva Ecija in June of this year.
“Right now, as all of you know the Philippines is in short supply of locally produced pork due to the impact of African Swine Flu,” said Aboitiz.
Aboitiz stressed this is the kind of investment and projects they would pursue in the future to address shortage in supply and “cement our company as a key player in the protein value chain of the Philippines.”
In addition, he said, the company will use the output from their farm “to grow our presence in the consumer space.”
At present, Pilmico’s “The Good Meat” is being attributed across the island of Luzon, and eventually the rest of the country. Already, Aboitiz said they will expand the retail outlet of the “The Good Meat” in Metro Manila with eight new stores within the year.
Meantime, Pilmico is in the process of exploring other opportunities in the Food and Nutrition space in countries like Malaysia and Vietnam. “Hopefully those will come to fruition and help us break into the food space in those in those countries.”
Recognizing the importance of living in “volatile times,” Aboitiz said it becomes more important for the company to ensure efficient operations.
