|
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
New banana chip flavors to up demand
THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in this Region has developed 12 new flavors of banana chips to further boost the product's demand in the world market while creating a niche in the local scene.
Unlike the traditional banana chips, which are only sweetened by sugar, these new products are specially flavored to satisfy one's cravings for banana chips that taste like barbeque, cheese, glazed, strawberry, chocolate, sweet and spicy, twin berries, coffee, or coffee with durian.
There's even one product called Davao trail mix, which is actually composed of banana chips, dried mango, green peas, peanuts, and coconut flakes.
The agency decided to come up with this innovation in order to encourage the youth, particularly the students, to choose banana chips for their snack rather than junk foods.
DTI regional director Merly M. Cruz said the main reason why the agency tapped NicheMarkets, Inc., a private firm that is engaged into business development services, to develop banana chips further is because of the increasing demand of the product in the world market.
"Banana chip products have been one of the top-earning exports of the Davao Region for years already. And based on our discussion with some of the exporters, we have learned that some of their clients are already asking them to produce flavored banana chips. Aside from that, we have also studied the local market, especially the young consumers. We have been thinking about how to persuade these students to prefer banana chips rather than junk foods. For a while we were asking ourselves, what's with junk food that they like most? Then we quipped, the flavors," she said.
Cruz is optimistic that by adding this feature to the world-famous banana chips of the region, the demand for the product would even soar higher.
After adding up flavors to the region's banana chips, the DTI here is now moving on towards persuading potential investors to venture into the production of these sumptuous goodies.
Ruben See, president and chief executive officer of See's International Food Manufacturing, Corp., one of the biggest banana chips processors in the Philippines, said during the launching of the flavored banana chips on November 4 at the Apo View Hotel that he would start pouring some capitalization on these new products before the year ends.
"I agree with what Director Cruz said that the market for banana chips has been constantly going up. And for us to push that movement further, we have to work harder. At ang pagpo-produce nga ng flavored banana chips ay isang paraan para mas tumaas pa ang demand.Actually, every time sumasali kami sa international trade fairs, ang mga buyers talaga abroad ay parating naghahanap ng innovation. We are venturing into it since maliit lang naman ang investment kasi nga flavoring lang kailangan. Kumbaga, medyo malaki ang investment ay doon lang sa promotion at packaging," said See.
As more investors become eager to adopt flavored banana chips, the demand for raw cardaba is likewise expected to escalate.
To date, there are 26 banana chips processing plants in Mindanao, which need an aggregate of 600 metric tons of raw cardaba everyday but only 400 metric tons is being met.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (November 22, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
