Mekeni president shares success story to Philexport-Central Luzon members

FROM a small home-based tocino business to becoming a world-class meat processing enterprise, Mekeni Food Corporation has surpassed numerous challenges through the years.

“There were several times I asked my father to shut down our business because I thought we won’t make it,” Mekeni President Prudencio Garcia shared during the PhilExport-Central Luzon General Meeting at Clark Marriott Hotel on July 21.

Among the challenges Mekeni faced were the Mount Pinatubo eruption in 1991, the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak in 2019, and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

"Out of compassion for his neighbors and love for his devastated community, our father Felix summoned us his sons, three of whom were abroad, to come back home and help with the business," Garcia shared.

"We carried that compassion to the community and to our staff up until now," he added.

Garcia said they made sure that each worker was treated like family, giving them place and entrusting them a significant role to play in the company.

"Dedication, teamwork, and drive for excellence were the underlying principles that governed the processing of our meat products. We surpassed all these challenges and we were able to stay, not only in the Philippine market but also abroad," Garcia said.

Today, Mekeni has become a household name in high-quality and delicious meat products.

As he shares the story of Mekeni, Garcia encouraged his fellow PhilExport-Central Luzon members to face business challenges headstrong especially now that the market has adjusted to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

With the theme "Beating the Odds: Illuminating Hope," the PhilExport-Central Luzon General Membership Meeting was led by President Cris Venzon.

PhilExport-Central Luzon Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Senen Perlada was the keynote speaker during the event.

Also present during the meeting were Department of Trade and Industry Central Luzon Regional Director Leny Baluyut and PCIERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit.

During the meeting, active PhilExport-Central Luzon members received recognition and new members were inducted.

PhilExport-Central Luzon serves exporters and business owners in Central Luzon who want to export their high-quality products.

Today, it serves 103 member companies from 14 different sectors and is one of PhilExport National’s most active chapters.