Wednesday, November 26, 2008 Purefoods sees good sales this Christmas
AMID the global financial crunch, Purefoods-Hormel Company (PHC), the leading manufacturer of quality ham, is confident of getting good sales turnout of their products this holiday season.
Noel Tempongko, Purefoods-Hormel general manager, said that in fact the company produces over a million kilograms of ham products only for this year's Christmas and New Year festivities.
PHC is the joint venture company between San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and Hormel Foods Corp. of the US which manufactures the delicacy.
According to Tempongko, hams are part of the foods that would be found in every Filipino family table during Noche Buena.
"For us, it all boils down to two major ingredients: quality and great taste," he said.
He added: "For over 50 years, Filipinos have trusted the Purefoods brand when it comes to great taste, and superior quality. And also, food safety. We work very hard and invest a lot to maintain their trust."
PHC plant manager Virgilio Madarang said Purefoods Fiesta Ham is processed under the most stringent standards for quality and taste.
He said the temperature inside the plant, except for the cooking department, is maintained at a constant four degrees Centigrade. As a result, workers have to wear thick uniforms.
"This is part of the quality control that we practice so that every product that comes out from the meat processing facility is clean and hygienic," Madarang explained.
Last year, he said Purefoods Fiesta Ham accounted for over 50 percent of the company's Christmas hams sales.
Introduced in the 1980s, Purefoods Fiesta Ham immediately became known as "the star of the Noche Buena feast," as it became even more popular during the Christmas season.
Aside from the Christmas ham, Tempongko said other products that were out in the market include Purefoods Jamon de Bola, Purefoods Pear-Shaped Ham, Purefoods Hamon con Keso, Purefoods Brick Ham, Purefoods Chinese Ham, Purefoods Chicken Ham, and Purefoods Jamon Royale.
Four years ago, PHC built its plant in Gen. Trias, Cavite, where Purefoods Fiesta Ham is made. The 2.5-hectare, Triple-A facility is a multibillion-peso structure built just four years ago.
The company continues to invest in the plant, benefiting from the technical expertise of US-based Hormel. There is also a big emphasis on corporate social responsibility, a trait it shares with parent San Miguel Corp. (MSN/Sunnex)
