IN A BID to reach more customers in the southern part of the country, the Gardenia Bakeries expanded its operations to Mindanao as it opened Thursday, March 7, its most advanced, fully-automated bread manufacturing facility in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
"We are now bringing Gardenia breads closer to our customers with the opening of our newest plant. With our current distribution capabilities, Gardenia is available in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Surigao and Zamboanga del Norte, Butuan and Kidapawan but we will intensify our market penetration and saturation to widen our network, and eventually, reach every corner of Mindanao," Gardenia president Jun Umali said.
The company invested P1 billion in its 2.5-hectare facility located at the Phividec Industrial Estate in Tagoloan.
The new plant, which is double the size of the Gardenia facility in Cebu, has the capacity to produce 130,000 loaves and buns a day which will be distributed all over the region.
"This completely new breadline features robotics and the latest innovations in modern baking. All major equipment are sourced from the best and reliable bakery equipment suppliers in Germany, the Netherlands, United States, Malaysia, and Japan," Umali said.
The new plant, he said, is purposely located in Tagoloan because of its accessibility not only from Mindanao but also from the Visayas.
"This will serve as support to our Cebu plant or Visayas market. We can also dispatch breads easily to other areas when the need arrives, especially in the event of major calamities or natural disasters in those areas," Umali said.
Umali shared that the decision to expand Gardenia's operations in Mindanao further solidified after seeing the demand for its bread, particularly after they helped those who were greatly affected by the Marawi siege.
At present, Gardenia has a total of six bread plants all over the country.
"With Gardenia in Mindanao, world-class quality bread products that will satisfy your appetites as well as feed your hearts will be at your fingertips. Our products will comw to you fresh, delicious and healthy as we take Gardenia and breadmaking to the next level," Umali said.