Squabble in condiments industry looms

MANILA -- A lawmaker wants to look into how one of the giants in the condiments industry was allowed to swallow a small, Mindanao-based suka manufacturer.

House Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development chairperson Teddy Casiño (Bayan Muna) filed House Resolution 577 to investigate the violations committed by Southeast Asia Foods, Inc. (SAFI), makers of Datu Puti Pinoy Kurat Spiced Tuba Vinegar.

This came after SAFI allegedly copied the Suka Pinakurat of the Iligan City-based Green Gold and Gourmet Foods, Inc.

GGGFI's Suka Pinakurat is registered with the Philippine Intellectual Property Office in 2006, Australia’s Intellectual Property Office in 2008 and the United States Patent Office in 2009.

SAFI is listed as the manufacturer and distributor of Datu Puti Lines, Mang Tomas, Golden Fiesta Cooking Oil, and Nelicom Lines, among others.

"Here we have a case of a big player copying the successful brand of the small player and eventually trying to kill the small player,” the lawmaker noted.

“This is like Goliath versus David, with SAFI using its market power to undermine GGGFI and the Intellectual Property Office acting as an accomplice," he added.(Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)