Boy Bawang strengthens grip in Middle East market

KSK Food Products, manufacturer of the Boy Bawang cornick (fried corn bits), is out to get a share in the $12-billion Arab food industry through the 'International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Roadshow and Mission to the Middle East" on November 5-18, organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM). "We're already exporting our Boy Bawang to Middle East since 2004 but participating in this government-organized trade mission will definitely help us expand our presence in the market by meeting new and existing buyers," said Millet Celones, export manager of KSK. For its first participation in the roadshow, KSK will bring the complete line of Boy Bawang products which now comes in six flavors: garlic, hot garlic, adobo, barbecue, chili cheese, and lechon manok. "We will also launch our new Cowboy raisin-and-peanut cookies and Little Giant mini-egg cookies in original and chocolate variants," added Celones. Being a pioneer in cornick manufacturing, the company takes pride in its industrialized production processes, which ensure the company's consistent adherence to strict hygienic standards. To date, KSK already received a number of certificates, proving its products' long-standing reputation to customers and suppliers in North America, Asia, Europe, and in some parts of the Middle East like Saudi Arabia: ISO 22000-2005 Food Safety System, ISO 9000-2001 Quality Management System, Hazard Critical Control Point (HACCP), and Good Manufacturing Procedures (GMP). Besides KSK, other participants that will explore on the Middle East market include: Fisher Farms (processed milkfish); Florence Foods Corp. (bottled preserves, processed marine products, noodles, frozen fruits and vegetables, coconut products); Fortress Food Manufacturing Corp. (canned goat meat products, canned vegetable products); Q-Phil Products International (noodles, bottled sweet preserves); and RFM Corporation (rice-based mixes, hotcake mixes, pancit noodles, flavored drinks, ice cream, processed meat). The mission is composed of manufacturers and exporters with halal-certified products and which have plans of expanding their export base in the lucrative and large collective markets of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC-7) member countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Reports say that the global halal food market is set to reach US$ 500 billion by 2010. The IFEX Roadshow will include courtesy calls on Philippine Embassies in areas concerned, pre-arranged business matchings with leading food trade associations and importers, and visits to key food retailers and wholesalers of Philippine food products in identified Arab states. The event also intends to reinforce the Philippines' grip on the million-strong Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Arab world. - Cheryl Arcibal, GMANews.TV