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| (Image Source: Journal Online/Department Of Trade And Industry Philippines) |
The Department of Trade and Industry's Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM) brought the vibrant and healthy flavors of the Philippines to the global stage at Anuga 2025 in Cologne, Germany where the Philippine delegation, composed of 17 dynamic small and medium enterprises (SMEs), showcased a premium selection of Halal and organic-certified food products, targeting the growing demand from European consumers. Under the banner of FOODPhilippines, the country’s participation highlights major exports that enjoy tariff exemptions in the European Union (EU) including healthy fats and oils, and preparations of fruits, seafood, and vegetables.
“The Philippines is ready to meet the evolving tastes of the global market. Our exhibitors are not just bringing authentic Filipino flavors, they are also showcasing a serious commitment to global standards, particularly in the areas of Halal, organic, and food safety,” said CITEM Executive Director Leah Pulido Ocampo. The Philippines has long been a source of premium agricultural products like coconut, mango, pineapple, and tuna. Combining tradition and innovation to suit international palates, Anuga 2025 attendees explored a diverse range of these products including milkfish, sauteed shrimp paste (bagoong), dried fish, calamansi and coconut concentrates, fruit preserves, and unique snacks like the rare Pili nut from the Bicol region, along with banana chips and puffed corn nuts (chichacorn). These offerings are developed with a strong focus on Halal-certified and organic products to cater to the ethical and dietary preferences of a broad consumer base in Europe. Demonstrating their competitiveness, several exhibitors have already achieved highly recognized international certifications such as those from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), one of the world’s most accepted food safety standards. These companies include GSL Premium Food Export Corp., Lionheart Farms, Philbest Canning Corporation (Philbest), Seatrade Canning Corporation (SCC), and See’s International Food Manufacturing Corporation.
The CITEM-led delegation at Anuga 2025 aims to build on the momentum from the previous edition of the said event which generated an estimated US$22.92M (22.92 million US dollars) in reported sales with canned seafood, banana chips, and snacks proving to be the most popular offerings. This participation is buoyed by the country’s strong performance in the EU market. According to a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report, exports of agricultural goods to EU member countries in 2024 reached US$1.53B (1.53 billion US dollars), contributing 19.0 percent to the country’s total exports to the region. The Philippines’ existing trade incentives under the Generalized Scheme of Preferences plus (GSP+) further enhance the export opportunities for participating exhibitors. The Philippine Pavilion in Anuga 2025 featured products from the following participating companies: Fitrite Inc., GSL Premium Food Export Corporation, Ilocos Food Products (IFP), Lionheart Farms, McCormick Philippines Inc., Mega Prime Foods, Inc., Nanoinovation Inc. x Anjo Farms, Ngosiok Marketing (Super Q), Phenomenon Group Inc., Philbest Canning Corporation (Philbest), Pilicrush Food Enterprise (Pilicrush), Pixel Transglobal Foods Inc., Profood International Corporation, Q-Phil International Trading (Q-Phil), Sangkutsa Food Products Inc., Seatrade Canning Corporation (SCC), and See’s International Food Manufacturing Corporation.
These companies, many of whom are go-to brands in the local market, also showcase their expertise annually at CITEM’s signature food event, IFEX Philippines. Trade buyers and potential investors who wish to learn more can visit the 19th edition of IFEX Philippines on May 21-23, 2026 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila in Pasay City. They can also explore the digital storefronts of exhibitors at IFEXConnect.com. The Philippine participation at Anuga 2025 is a collaborative effort with the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Berlin, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PHILEXPORT), and DTI Region 5.
