20 October 2016 – The Department of Trade and Industry, through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), spearheaded the country’s participation at SIAL, the largest French food show in Paris from October 16 to 20.

Under the banner “Food Philippines, Taste by Design”, the Philippine pavilion occupied a 180-square meter booth at the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition center and showcased Philippine food products such as dried mangoes, coconut-based products, banana chips, muscovado sugar, pili nuts and tuna, among others. They were joined by Philippine household names like Goldilocks, Skyflakes and Tanduay.

For five days, the Philippine exhibitors will welcome international buyers and guests to negotiate export sales. This year, 20 companies participated.  Among them were Alliance Select Foods International, Amley Food, Asia Brewery, B-G Fruits and Nuts Manufacturing,  Brandexports Philippines, Businesspeople, Century Pacific Food, DLA Naturals, Goldilocks Bakeshop, Grand Eight Export Packaging & Logistic, Green Enviro Management Systems, J. Emmanuel pastries – the House of Pili, KSK Food Products, Miesto International Foods; Monde M.Y. San, Pasciolco Agri Ventures, Philippines Grocers Food Exports, Prosource International, Raw Brown Sugar Milling and See’s International Food Manufacturing.

Prosource International’s Nuco organic coconut wraps and coconut vegan mayo were both shortlisted for the SIAL Innovation Award.

According to Mr. Froilan Emil Pamintuan, Director of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Paris, “After the first two days of the trade fair, our Philippine exporters have already projected at least US$9 million in sales. This can be expected to go even higher as more buyers visit the Philippine pavilion”.

Philippine Ambassador to France Ma. Theresa Lazaro, welcomed each of the twenty exhibitors and tasted their products. “I am proud to hear that we now have Philippine food products at La Grande Epicerie de Paris. I hope that this will only be the beginning and that more and more Philippine products will be able to penetrate the French market.”

La Grande Epicierie de Paris is the high-end food store of Le Bon Marché, the world’s first department store located at the French capital. According to Mr. Tomas Medina, CEO of Brandexports Philippines, La Grande Epicerie now distributes Philippine virgin coconut oil.

SIAL is the largest food and beverage fair in France. Held every two years, this is the first time that the Philippine exporters will be able to capitalize on the country’s GSP+ status. This EU preferential trade scheme allows the Philippines to export over 6,000 food items to France and the rest of the EU at zero tariff. END