Century Pacific managing pricing 'carefully' amid rising costs

Listed food manufacturer Century Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF) is managing product prices amid rising costs due to the Middle East conflict, as the company seeks to continue to offer affordable options across different price points.

According to CNPF chief financial officer Chad Manapat, the company continues to expect headwinds in the coming months due to the conflict between the United States and Iran that has impacted global supply chains and spiked inflation.

“Near-term, we are proactively navigating the unpredictability of the situation to ensure that we mitigate the impact to the extent possible,” he said in a regulatory filing.

“This means a heavier hand in slashing discretionary costs, operating with a multi-scenario playbook, and managing our pricing carefully to balance affordability with the realities of a higher cost environment,” he added.

Manapat said the company—whose portfolio includes Century Tuna, Argentina, 555, Ligo, and Birch Tree—will continue to invest in its value segment to ensure “meaningful options” are available at every price point.

CNPF posted a 10% growth in its net income for the first quarter of the year, on the back of sustained demand in its branded business and the recovery in its export sales.

Net income after tax grew to P2.1 billion, as operating income increased 17%. Revenues for the quarter climbed 15% to P23.0 billion, with the branded unit posting an 11% volume growth.

The company’s export business recorded a 32% jump as tuna markets improved and global demand for coconut products was sustained.

“We are deeply grateful to be able to deliver decent results in 1Q26. It has not been an easy environment, especially for the Filipino household,” Manapat said.

“This is why we widened our value for money offerings, leaned into convenience, and worked to keep our products accessible during the quarter. We are humbled that in these difficult times, our consumers continue to reach for our brands,” he added.

Moving forward, Manapat said the company continues to target double-digit growth this year, as it looks for opportunities to invest in capacity, technology, supply chain, and organization. —VBL, GMA News