Wednesday, November 14, 2007 Minola oil sales continue to increase: distributor By Joy Romares-Sevilla
AN OFFICIAL of Legaspi Oil Co., Inc., distributor of Minola Cooking Oil in Davao Region, revealed Tuesday that the company has not seen drastic decrease in the sales of the product amid reports the 200-ml stand-up pouch of the oil brand in Davao City have contained "foreign objects."
Jorge Banzale, regional marketing manager of Legaspi Oil, said in a press conference at the Grand Regal Hotel Tuesday that sales of the cooking oil brand have instead increased.
"We haven't seen a drastic decrease in the sales, during this time din kasi, halos lahat ng consumer items talagang lumalakas because of the approaching Holiday seasons," Banzale said.
He said the San Pablo Manufacturing Corporation (SPMC) in Laguna, the makers of Minola Cooking Oil, is concerned with the report that the 200-ml pack of its cooking oil product was contaminated.
"We categorically state that the contamination cannot be caused by our manufacturing, packaging, or distribution process. Recent developments point to these incidents as the work of individuals, or worse, a more elaborate attempt to sabotage our Minola brand," Banzale said, as he reads the statement issued by SPMC.
He said the makers of Minola employ meticulous manufacturing and packaging processes, including quality checks that bar any possibility that its products will turn out inferior.
"Ever since we started operations in 1959, we have not received any single consumer complaint that our product is contaminated," Banzale said.
He said the company is eyeing four possibilities why the incident happened: brand pranksters, company saboteurs, extortionists, and competitors.
"There is an ongoing investigation in our company, whenever we will come up with a result, we will let you know," he said.
On October 20, a certain Cherry Ann Amper, 32, sales consultant of the Pro Mark Strategy, reportedly bought a 200 ml pouch of Minola Oil in a supermarket in Davao City.
On October 26, the product was used for frying and it was this time when Amper found four small mice inside the pouch. She then proceeded to the Sta. Ana police precinct to complain.
"Our plant was informed of the incident on October 27. On the same date, we immediately checked stocks of the same batch code and we ordered the withdrawals of products with the same code not only in Mindanao, but nationwide," Banzale said.
Bansale further said that on October 30, representatives of the SPMC flew to Davao City to study the complaint.
"During that time, we found out that the band seal portion of the pouch, which was bought by the complainant, was no longer present," Banzale said.
He asserted that the company already requested for a sample of the contaminated product from the Sta. Ana police precinct.
"We will submit the sample to a reputable laboratory for examination, and of course, the results will be released to the public," Banzale said.
Minola is the number one cooking oil in Mindanao because its company has consistently delivered high quality products to the consumers. It has garnered various awards like "Most Outstanding Cooking Oil" by the Consumers Union of the Philippines, "Superbrands Platinum Award," and "Most Trusted Brands Gold Award" by the Reader's Digest.
Minola products are also Halal certified by Islamic Dawah Council of the Philippines; Sangkap Pinoy certified for Vitamin A by the Department of Health; and bears the Proudly Philippine Made Global Seal of Excellence.
"We intend to remain number one brand of cooking oil in this part of the country and we will not allow any attempt by unscrupulous individuals or groups of people to smear our reputation," Banzale concluded.
