FOOD MANUFACTURER Universal Robina Corp. (URC) was recognized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) as the country’s top exporter for the processed food and beverage sector.
In a statement, the Gokongwei-led company said it was selected by DTI as the leading exporter for the said sector during the National Export Congress held on Dec. 3.
URC said the recognition as top exporter was based on 2019 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that showed the value of its export transactions.
“The company’s export transactions reached approximately $30 million that year,” URC said.
Brian M. Go, URC Vice President for Global Exports and Frontier Markets, said exporters are still pushing forward despite the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic to local and global trade.
“This recognition for our hard work and dedication to our customers is especially meaningful, given the challenges businesses, and our nation as a whole, are facing because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr. Go was quoted as saying.
Through its Exports Group, URC ships its products, such as Jack n’ Jill snacks, Great Taste instant coffee, and C2 ready to drink tea, to 38 countries around the world.
In 2019, the company created a Global Exports business unit in charge of the worldwide distribution of both URC Philippines and URC International-sourced products.
The said business unit combined URC’s regional sales team and consolidated other export departments into one global export team.
According to URC, its Global Export business unit ships to areas in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Indian Ocean islands, North Asia, and Oceania and the Pacific Islands. Its Philippine office also distributes its products to affiliate URC companies in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
URC posted a 6% increase in its attributable net income to P1.97 billion in the third quarter due to lower debt and higher operating income. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave