CEBU-BASED The Pork Shop has expanded its operations in the province of Leyte by opening an outlet in Ormoc City.
The expansion augments the supply of pork that is guaranteed fresh and locally produced, according to The Pork Shop franchisee lawyer Manuel Montejo Jr.
“We can assure the market of the quality of the pork products that we will be selling in the branch. This is consistent with Virginia Farms Inc.’s promise of high quality local pork products,” said Montejo.
The Pork Shop is Virginia Farms Inc.’s retail arm that sells fresh chilled pork products.
Aside from in Ormoc City, the company now has a total of 47 branches in Cebu, three branches in Iloilo City and one branch in Naval, Biliran.
Virginia Farms president Rolando Tambago said they have lined up several branches for opening in the province of Leyte and Samar this year, including those in Leyte’s capital Tacloban City and Catbalogan City in Samar.
“The goal is to make sure every Filipino will have access to guaranteed fresh, local and safe to eat pork products. That is why we continue to expand and open branches even in the middle of this pandemic,” said Tambago.
The entry of The Pork Shop in Ormoc City is a welcome development in addressing the pork demand in Eastern Visayas on the back of the African swine fever (ASF) crisis faced by the country today.
Eastern Visayas, specifically the province of Leyte, has several municipalities that were hit by the ASF, forcing the government to cull at least 4,000 hogs. This has resulted in a supply shortage, pushing pork prices up. (KOC)