DTI-CITEM’s Food Philippines inspires hearty enjoyment by bringing the Philippines’ health and taste champions, bold flavors, and a vibrant selection of homegrown brands to the European table.

SIAL PARIS
The Salon de l’Alimentation, or SIAL, held every two years, is an international trade show specializing in the food industry and offering 20 product sectors – from gourmet food to organic ingredients to wine and spirits – with 7,000 highly diverse exhibitors from 105 countries to create a melting pot of cuisines and cultures in one event.
This year, the show will run from October 16 to 20 and will be attended by over 155,000 trade buyers and visitors and 120 official delegations from the HORECA industry, flying all the way to la Ville Lumière – “the City of Lights” – Paris, France from 194 countries across the globe.
Regarded as the world’s largest food innovation exhibition, SIAL is considered as a crossroad of world agri-business supply and demand, as well as a springboard for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
At this significant meeting point, the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), brings to Europe and the rest of the world Premium Quality, Premium Taste – fine food choices with added health benefits and exciting flavors that inspire gusto, not only in the kitchen or dinner table, but in every aspect of a robust lifestyle. The project is implemented in cooperation with the Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Paris.
Leading the selection to be presented in the Philippine pavilion at SIAL are premium agricultural and marine produce coconut, banana, mango, and tuna, grown and harvested from the 7,107 tropical islands of the country. These food champions, owing to their versatility, excellent quality, and exquisite taste, have gained a solid reputation in markets in Asia, the U.S.A, Middle East, and Europe.
Coconut: an all-around healthy ingredient
The Philippine coconut, known globally for its quality and taste, has made the country the second largest coconut products supplier in the world.
About 42% of the world’s coconut oil is from the Philippines. At the same time, the country also satisfies 34% of the global requirement for desiccated coconut which is used as an ingredient in biscuits, snacks, cereals, cakes, and cookies.
Coconut derivatives are quickly gaining popularity as a healthy replacement for many staple products. In fact, a rising number of health conscious individuals and athletes all around the world are choosing coconut products over more traditional grocery items.
And why not? Coconut products are suited to many preferred diet plans such as Vegetarian, Vegan, Atkins, Paleo, Gluten-free, and South Beach, to name a few.
With a subtle sweet scent and flavor, gluten-free, high-fiber, and high-protein coconut flour is a healthy alternative to traditional baking flour. Cooks, pastry chefs, and bakers in many countries are starting to use coconut flour to create both sweet and savory breads and dishes.
For the Philippine participation, the companies B-G Fruits & Nuts Manufacturing Corporation, Brandexports Philippines, Inc., BusinessPeople, Inc., Pasciolco Agri Ventures, and ProSource International, Inc., bring to SIAL a wide variety of coconut products including organic amino sauce, chips, cream, flour, gel (nata de coco), jam, macapuno, milk, oil, strips, sugar, syrup, vinegar, and water, to share with the European market the million and one uses of coconut.
Banana: pro-energy, pro-flavor
As the most popular fruit in the world, bananas have the biggest commercial demand globally. Where do the huge markets source their bananas for the mass of consumers?
With 441,951 hectares of banana plantations and 30 nations receiving top quality Philippine banana products, the Philippines has secured its place as one of the world’s largest and most reputable banana exporters.
In 2015 alone, the Philippines’ banana export was valued over 439 million USD. This industry provides livelihood to 503,000 Filipinos who plant, harvest, and process Cavendish and Cardaba varieties yielding more than 9 million metric tons annually.
Among international chefs and food and health experts, the Philippine banana is considered as a staple fruit in the kitchen.
Generous in flavor and with numerous uses, bananas can transform plain cakes, breads, and muffins into sweet gourmet creations. Crisp bananas are also added to cereals and oats for a taste, texture, and nutritional upgrade.
Fitness enthusiasts also swear by this energy-boosting fruit. Rich in potassium and vitamin C, one fresh banana, or one small cup of plain banana chips, is a great pre-workout meal. Many energy drink companies actually imitate the combination of sugars in bananas, as this mix delivers the best results for athletes, promoting agility and speedy recovery, and providing more energy and focus.
For the Philippine participation at SIAL, B-G Fruits & Nuts Manufacturing Corporation and See’s International Food Manufacturing Corporation exhibits the humble yet exotic fruit in different preparations to suit various applications.
The Philippine mango: sweetest in the world
It does not take much to succumb to the temptation of fresh Philippine mango, which renowned chef Gaggan Anand describes as “the perfect balance of sweet and sour.”
Possessing a unique flavor profile that goes amazingly well with an abundance of other food products, it makes the best ingredient for a great number of creations, such as savory salsa, cake, sweet lassi, festive margarita, muffin, spicy salad, sorbet, chili chicken sandwich…the list goes on!
Add to that a good list of health benefits. One cup of the “king of fruits” contains 1,785 IU of vitamin A which is needed to support healthy eyes and foster proper bone growth. Mango is also a source of folate or folic acid for pregnant women as it can help prevent birth defects and miscarriage.
Many studies reveal the cancer-preventive properties of mango. Rich in antioxidant compound, mangoes protect against breast, colon, leukemia, and prostate cancers.
No other country in the world can claim to have the sweetest, juiciest mango. Only in the Philippine soil do the most loved mangoes grow and ripen. Countries such as Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and USA, major export destinations of fresh and processed Philippine mango, can attest to the superior taste and quality of the country’s national fruit.
And with 187,837 hectares of plantations producing 788,074 metric tons for the domestic market and 48 countries abroad, coupled with a steadily improving production capacity, the Philippines is more than capable of offering this legendary fruit to the world.
Amley Food Corporation, Brandexports Philippines, Inc., and Green Enviro Management Systems, Inc. will showcase the selection of enticing mango products such as healthy dried mango snacks, spiced mango sauce, mango vinegar, mango kernel flour, mango-cassava flour, and mango-coconut flour at the European trade show for the world to sample.
Tuna: one of the world’s favorite fish

The Philippines will bring to SIAL not only fruits of the land but also produce from the sea including tuna and other fish.
A part of the almost 6 million square kilometers of tropical marine expanse called the Coral Triangle, the Philippine waters is home to large populations of tuna that thrive alongside 600 reef-building corals and over 2,000 other species of fish.
As the second-largest tuna exporter in the world, serving major markets such as Japan, the U.S., and the United Kingdom, the Philippines is capable of producing 58,660 metric tons of canned tuna and 28,808 metric tons of frozen or chilled tuna for the international market.
Tuna is also many athletes and health-conscious individuals’ go-to protein source. Just 3.5 ounces of tuna, or a little less than one cup, provides 30 grams of lean protein, along with important nutrients including omega-3 fatty acids – of which tuna is famous for, vitamins D and B12, and selenium. As such, eating tuna often can help lower risks of heart-related diseases, maintain healthy bones and teeth, sustain energy throughout the day, and support the immune system.

And a versatile food, the Philippine tuna can be served and eaten in many ways – not just as filling in sandwiches – but as the star ingredient in nutritious salads, tacos, macaroni dishes, stuffed potatoes, relishes, and many more.
High quality tuna, processed and canned using only the strictest standards, along with other choice fish products (sardines and milkfish), will be brought to the trade show by Alliance Select Foods International, Inc., Brandexports Philippines, Inc., and Century Pacific Food, Inc..
Homegrown brands, trusted manufacturers: the Philippines’ favorite tastes and kitchen staples ready for the world
Food Philippines through SIAL also offers the world the Philippines’ most loved food brands and top-of-mind suppliers that have become a fixture in the Philippine kitchen and an important element of the authentic Filipino lifestyle.
Snacks
Goldilocks Bakeshop Inc., founded in 1966 and one the Philippines’ well-established bakeshops, will bring their Sweet Polvoron Delights to SIAL. Polvoron is a Filipino delicacy that captures the dreamy combination of milk powder, toasted flour, sugar, and melted butter.

A food brand close to the heart of every Filipino child, Regent, and its wide assortment of savory potato and corn chips and crackers; single-serve cakes in different flavors; corn, chicken teriyaki, cheese, vegetable, and seafood-flavored chips and crackers; and the brand’s newest addition, matcha-flavored corn cracker, will be exhibited by Grand Eight Export Packaging and Logistics Corp. and Philippine Grocers Food Exports Inc.
Philippine Grocers also brings to SIAL the brand Lemon Square, a prolific Philippine baked goods manufacturer and maker of popular cheese cupcakes. Assorted cupcakes and inipit (which means “pressed”, is a favorite Filipino delicacy made of two slices of sponge cake stacked together and filled with cream in the middle) will find their niche in the European market through the trade show.
International buyers and guests will finally get a taste of the Philippines’ “national biscuit” Skyflakes, as well as Fita and Grahams manufactured by Monde M.Y. San Corp. These crackers and biscuits are considered heritage brands holding top spots in the Philippine market for more than four decades.
Although pili is native to maritime Southeast Asian countries, only the Philippines harvests and processes the delicious nut, making it a uniquely Filipino treat. But one does not have to fly to the Philippines just to enjoy pili, thanks to J. Emmanuel Pastries – The House of Pili and Y Nut!, a selection of pili nut nibbles will be made available to the European market.
The pili nut is also a healthy food choice that places well with the Paleo diet and the Ketogenic diet which is starting to gain traction in the U.S. and the U.K.
A healthier alternative to fried pork rinds is Boy Bawang, a well-loved brand of the heritage snack called “chichacorn” (blend of Spanish word chicharrón and corn) or “Ilocos chicharon” in northern Philippines. Boy Bawang, which is already being exported to many countries across the world, is showcased by KSK Food Products.
The Philippines’ queen city of the South, Cebu, has a favorite snack called otap, an oval-shaped puffed pastry made from flour, shortening, coconut, and sugar that is baked twice to achieve its characteristic flaky crunch. Golden Harvest Otap will reach Europe through Brandexports.
Frozen fruit juices, known as “ice candy” in the Philippines, is a favorite cooler during hot and humid summer months. Miesto International Foods Corp. makes export-quality versions of this icy treat and takes them to SIAL for international taste buds to try and fall in love with.
Drinks
Always present in every Filipino school kid’s lunchbox is a carton of Selecta Moo Choco drink, which will be a part of Grand Eight’s selection of product offerings.
Other Philippine beverages taking part in SIAL are Tanduay Asian Rum and Cobra Energy drink, both manufactured and exported by Asia Brewery, Inc.
Considered as one of Asia’s best kept secrets, Tanduay Asian Rum, which spends 5-7 years in charred oak barrels, are made by a distillery company existing since the 1800s. Asia Brewery, Inc. brings Tanduay Asian Rum to SIAL to offer European guests the chance to see for themselves why the spirit is labeled the “Rum of Distinction.”
Meanwhile, Cobra Energy Drink is the Philippines number one drink for mental and physical alertness that combines taurine, inositol, caffeine, B-vitamins, carbohydrates, and ginseng.
Noodles and Pasta
Different kinds of noodles such as thick cornflour noodle, fine rice noodle, flour stick noodle, vermicelli noodle, and mung bean noodle by the brands Cucina Filipina and Golden Harvest, and brought by Brandexports and Philippine Grocers, will be offered to give a chance to European foodies to make in their own homes delicious and authentic Asian and Filipino dishes like pancit luglog, pancit bihon, pancit canton, and sotanghon.
Grand Eight will present leading pasta brands like Royal Pasta, White King brand Fiesta Spaghetti (number one in the Philippine market), along with White King brand Fiesta Spaghetti Sauce.
Sugar
Organic muscovado made from sugar cane by Raw Brown Sugar Milling Co., Inc., and Suchero’s low glycemic natural sweetener made from coconut sap will be made available at the Food Philippines pavilion through Brandexports.
Condiments, Marinades, Spice Mixes, Sauces, Seasonings
Numerous authentic Philippine dishes such as binagoongang lechong kawali and kare-kare, and sour fruits and crops like green mango and singkamas, are made more mouth-watering with a bit of bagoong or sautéed shrimp paste.
This favorite Philippine condiment, specifically the Golden Harvest brand, will be offered by Brandexports.
No other dish says Filipino better than adobo. The most sought-after Philippine dish, that English gourmet and journalist Nigella Lawson is striving to perfect, can now be effortlessly made and served at home even by the untrained using Mama Sita’s adobo marinade and adobo sauce mix, brought to SIAL by Philippine Grocers, together with other great kitchen help by the Mama Sita’s brand such as barbecue marinade, sisig spice mix, and sinigang sa sampalok seasoning mix.
Processed Fruits and Preserves
No town fiesta celebration will be complete without Philippine fruit salad, and to make this delicacy, the required ingredients are preserved fruits such as pineapple chunks, tropical fruit cocktail, and red sugar palm fruit (kaong), which will be brought by Brandexports.
DLA Naturals will offer a wide selection of fruit fillings and pastry glazes for industrial baking. The company understands the baking industry’s demand and has perfected their recipe for economic and luxury varieties of hot- and cold-application glazes and fillings made from apricot, apple, blueberry, cherry, raspberry, pineapple, and strawberry.
Dried Seafood
Aside from premium tuna, the Philippine pavilion at SIAL will also offer dried seafood by the Golden Sea Queen brand brought by Brandexports.
Included in the product selection are quintessential Philippine breakfast foods that pair with the iconic silog (a wordplay of sinangag, or fried rice, and itlog, or egg): dried salted ponyfish (sapsap), rabbit fish (danggit), squid, threadfin bream (bisugo), silverfish anchovies (dilis), and mackerel (alumahan).
Food Philippines in SIAL Paris 2016: Premium Quality, Premium Taste
Trade buyers and guests at SIAL Paris 2016 are invited to visit the Food Philippines pavilion at Hall 4 Stand Number 4L 106 and let Premium Quality, Premium Taste from the Philippines spark a new zestfulness for food and flavors.
For more information on Food Philippines in SIAL Paris 2016, interested parties may visit the official website citem.com.ph/sial/.