Mega Global Corp., one of the world’s biggest sardines manufacturers, has launched a new subsidiary, Mega Prime Foods Inc. to be the company’s main revenue generator and research and development hub.
Mega Global chief growth and development officer Marvin Tiu Lim said the new subsidiary would expand the group’s product portfolio by offering more packaged products to add to the company’s existing assortment of canned sardines, canned vegetables and condiments.
“As the largest subsidiary of our business, MPSI will go beyond pioneering product innovations that will boost our commitment to uplift the lives of millions of Filipinos nationwide. We are excited to explore how much we can maximize this as a driver of domestic growth,” he said.
To support this goal, MPFI is ramping up operations to process more packed and canned food with a vision to support the community’s growing needs.
Mega Global invested P1 billion in 2021 to put up a new manufacturing facility in Batangas province to house the manufacturing and canning processes of choice vegetables and other food innovations that the R&D facility plans to offer soon.
MPFI will start operating in the Batangas facility by 2023 and will employ nearly a thousand workers in the marketing division and in the cannery.
The plant will improve the company’s manufacturing capacity by 30 percent to 50 percent, in anticipation of increased demand in the next five years.
Mega Global chief technical and innovations officer Malcolm Tiu Lim said the new plant would be equipped with state-of -the-art facilities, production machines, cold storage and dry storage compartments, fish meal plant and a world class R&D facility to come up with new and better products for consumers.
“When we upgrade our canning capacities and fully operate MPSI, we will actually produce 160 million cans of sardines across the whole production in one year. Our Batangas plant will actually put a premium to the company’s compliance to international certification standards,” he said.
As a world-class facility, MPFI manufactures food products to global specifications. The company complies with internationally recognized certifications and standards such as FSSC: 22000, HACCP, EU and HALAL.
The Batangas plant will operate in accordance with strict international standards by using best practices and innovations in manufacturing and business processes, ensuring that only top-quality products reach the homes of millions of Filipinos.
MPFI will be led by a team of professionals who would ensure that the new product lines are safe, of high quality and globally competitive.
The subsidiary is committed to sustainable practices such as zero-waste manufacturing capability and sustainable energy sources and will endeavor to work for a food-secure Philippines through various initiatives and innovations.
The facility will be insulated by an energy light source to lower carbon footprint emissions by 511 metric tons. The facility will be partly-powered by renewable energy using solar panels, as the conglomerate moves toward increasing its environmental, social and governance footprint.
Mega Global is also actively pursuing its social responsibility by supporting Filipino youth through outreach programs such as the “Mega Lusog” feeding program for pre-schoolers and grade school students. In expanding the outreach program, MPSI will open the plant for interactive tour for school children to teach them the value of food and appreciate the processes of how packaged food is produced.
“Food security is essential to the well-being of Filipinos and is critical to the country’s socio-economic development. We recognize that we have a key role to play in ensuring food security and in nation-building. Through our innovations and investments in our people and processes, we are confident that MPFI can help the Philippines achieve food security,” said Mega Prime Foods Inc. chief operating officer Michelle Tiu Lim-Chan.