Foods and beverage giant San Miguel Corp. has dispelled fears of a possible shortage of food staples such as hotdog and luncheon meat due to import restrictions and a surge in meat material prices.
In a statement, San Miguel chief operating officer Ramon Ang said its refrigerated meats and canned goods will remain available in supermarket shelves and other retail outlets, despite global challenges that affect the cost and availability of raw materials.
“Since the start of the pandemic, our food business has strived to make our supply chains more agile and resilient. As a result, we have expanded our raw material supply sources, and have also increased our flexibility in terms of production,” Ang said.
San Miguel’s food unit, San Miguel Food, is one of the largest producers of poultry and pork in the Philippines.
It is also a major importer of meat materials, using close to 100,000 metric tons per year.
Like other food companies, the company said its supply of raw materials has been affected by tightness in supply, price hikes, and restrictions in importation due to global issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, African Swine Fever, and avian flu, among others.
“When you have enough meat and packaging materials, along with ample manufacturing capacity, you can ensure continuous supply,” said Ang.
“As we have done throughout the period of this pandemic, we can continue to provide for the needs of our consumers despite the present challenges,” he added.