It’s always been a hunt for Philippine Food products. Now, the taste of the Philippines is available in mainstream retail stores in Australia.
According to the Department of Trade and Industry through the Philippine Trade and Investment Centre (PTIC) Filipino sauces and mixes to vinegar, soy sauce, salty snacks, biscuits, rice noodles and other pinoy favourites will be made available at Woolworths. The retail giant is ramping up the number of store locations where Filipino products can be found in its international food section in response to a growing multicultural population and increasingly adventurous taste of Australian mainstream consumers.
From only a dozen stores in 2019, the distribution has now expanded to 60 stores across Australia, with more stores to be added within the next 3-5 years as more Filipinos and Australians seek out Filipino products to enjoy.
Alma Argayoso, the Philippines’ trade representative to Australia said DTI aims to grow the market and make Filipino products more available not only to Filipinos but also to Australian buyers.
“The Filipino mom-and-pop shops will remain as they have unique offerings, style and culture catering to the Filipino community, but if we are aiming to target the majority of Australians, we have to be in the mainstream stores,” Argayoso added.
The demand for Filipino products increased during the pandemic when lockdown measures were imposed as stuck-at-home Filipino-Australians have turned into cooking more adventurous dishes and trying out new recipes, according to DHN Import/Export Trading, the company that has pioneered stocking Filipino staple pantry goods in Woolworths.
“We predict that the demand for Filipino products will continue to increase even beyond the pandemic. There is an increasing awareness now for Filipino cuisine and the availability of products and ingredients in the mainstream supermarkets will drive demand further,” Bob Harris, the marketing consultant for DHN Trading, said in a recent interview.
“Making the products available in mainstream shelves also offer unique opportunities and practical convenience for Filipino families where both adults work and for shift workers as Woolworths stores are open 7 days a week from 7 am to 10 pm or 12 midnight depending on the area,” Harris added.
Aside from traditional pinoy favourites, other Philippine-made products, either branded or toll-packed in the Philippines such as canned tropical fruit, fruit juices, banana chips, virgin coconut oil, coconut water, coconut flour and other coconut products are also available in the Woolworths aisles. These products are more widely distributed in over 900 Woolworths stores across Australia.
DURIAN DAVAO’S FAVOURITE DELICACY ALSO AVAILABLE
In addition to the other regular Filipino Food products and condiments, Australians will soon be tasting the sweet, savory, and creamy durian from Davao as the Philippines’ first-ever shipment of frozen durian from Davao City has arrived Down Under.
The initial shipment of two varieties of durian called Puyat and Duyaya in whole pieces with shell and a tasting sampler pack arrived at the Port of Melbourne on Tuesday, 2 March, made possible by Melbourne-based importer, Aus Asia Produce Pty Ltd. Aus Asia Produce is an Australian company that specializes in importing and distributing exotic tropical fruits, Asian vegetables, herbs and other products.
“The durian varieties included in the shipment are Puyat and Duyaya. Puyat is sweet with a hint of “bitterness” as desired flavor amongst new generation durian connoisseurs. Whilst Duyaya has the most flesh of any durian I have ever seen in my life, and I’ve eaten many before and this is even more meaty,” said Thanh Truong, director of Aus Asia Produce Pty Ltd.
“The first batch of shipment also includes a Tasting Sampler Pack or Durian Box containing 3 varieties of durian: Puyat, Duyaya and Arancillo curated by “Year of the Durian” writer and traveller Lindsay Gasik, the most travelled durian blogger in the world,” added Mr. Truong.
Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen B. De Le Vega said this is a breakthrough development that could further expand exports of other fruits and vegetables from Mindanao. “The Philippine government continues to find ways to make available our food products here in Australia and we are working with government and business stakeholders to deliver premium variety to the Australian market,” the Ambassador said.
In the meantime, the Department of Trade and Industry, through the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Sydney said the Philippines is looking forward to more cooperation between Australian and Philippine companies that will bring more Philippine high-quality, world-class food products to Australia and make it available to both Filipino and Australian consumers.
For more information contact: Jun Gunay of PTIC Sydney – sydney@dti.gov.ph – Tel. No. : 02 9261 2328
15, March 2021
