Mekeni strengthens promotion of local heritage

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Mekeni Food Corporation, one of the country’s biggest food manufacturing companies, is further solidifying its commitment to promoting local heritage not just in the country but in the US.

Photo shows (L-R) Pampanga Press Club President Noel Tulabut, Mekeni AVP for Marketing Kathlene Gomez-Schultz, Mekeni AVP for HR and Export Marilou Uy, Consul General Elmer Cato, Mekeni President Prudencio S. Garcia, and Skills Simplified CEO Francis Miranda at the Gawad Alab ng Lahi event held at Whitby Hotel, New York (Photo credit: Troi Santos, CNN Philippines).

The home-grown food brand recently partnered with Hiraya Foundation, a New York-based non-profit organization established by Filipino and Filipino-American professionals, for the first-ever Gawad Alab ng Lahi.

Gawad Alab ng Lahi is a program by Hiraya Foundation that aims to recognize individuals, enterprises, and communities that contribute to uplifting the lives of Filipinos and promoting progress in the Philippines.

Mekeni  President Prudencio S. Garcia and Consul General Elmer Cato at the Gawad Alab ng Lahi Awarding held at Whitby Hotel, New York. (Photo credit: Troi Santos, CNN Philippines) 

Hiraya Foundation Chairman of the Board Romulo Aromin, Jr., MD added that the program honors those who made a meaningful impact on the lives of Filipinos abroad and in the Philippines.

 Mekeni President Prudencio S. Garcia said, “We are fortunate to cross paths with Hiraya Foundation and a group of successful Filipinos who also advocate conservation of our heritage, especially during this time where everything seems to be at our fingertips. As a local brand penetrating the global arena, we recognize the importance of preserving one’s identity, being proud of your roots, and effecting positive change in society.”

Garcia, who is also a former overseas worker, continued that like Hiraya Foundation, uplifting lives is at the core of Mekeni.

Mekeni was born out of a simple dream of a father who wants to give his family a better life ahead. This, however, changed and grew deeper after its founder, Felix Garcia, witnessed the hardships in their barrio after the devastating Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991. Since then, it has become their advocacy to uplift lives within and beyond their community.

“We are grateful to Mekeni for supporting and joining us in our cause. With a program such as this, we hope we could inspire the next generation to uphold our heritage no matter where success takes them,” said Aromin.

This partnership between Mekeni and Hiraya Foundation was made possible by the Philippine Consulate in New York, headed by Consul General Elmer Cato who lauds the foundation for its patriotic advocacy.

In the recently concluded awarding ceremony last July 11, 2022, at Whitby Hotel in New York, the following were the winners of the Gawad Alab ng Lahi award: Dr. Leo Felix Jurado for his unrelenting advocacy for Filipino nurses in the US; Concentrix Philippines for opening doors nationwide for Filipinos to provide for their families and thrive in unprecedented times; Philippine Nurses Association of America, Inc. for being at the forefront of advancing the interests and welfare of nurses in the US by providing professional and legal assistance; and Carnival Cruise Line for recognizing and rewarding Filipino talents through employment and ensuring their health and safety during the height of the pandemic.

Photo shows Mekeni President Prudencio S. Garcia speaking before over a hundred overseas Filipino workers during the Pagpupugay event organized by the Philippine Consulate in New York and OWWA.

Apart from participating in Gawad Alab ng Lahi, Mekeni representatives also met with Filipino overseas workers in New York in a tribute event organized by ConGen Cato and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

Mekeni was given a chance to impart to the attendees their experiences and learnings in overcoming challenges.

“We hope that our story will inspire them that if they are resolute in their dreams, nothing is impossible. No challenge is too big to bring them down,” concluded Garcia.

 

Mekeni brings well-loved tocino to the US market

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Another Mekeni food product will be available in the US market soon as Mekeni Food Corporation announced that they are bringing their well-loved tocino through Island Pacific Supermarket.

Mekeni President Prudencio Garcia said that this new development in their world-market journey is a testament to their commitment to uplift the lives of Filipinos and bring pride to the country.

Mekeni expands reach by bringing kikiam, fish balls, and tocino to the US. Available 

in all Island Pacific stores.

“This is another step for us to introduce our own Timplang Atin to the rest of the world. When we introduced our first batch of Mekeni-branded products to the US, we want Filipinos abroad and foreigners alike to have access to the world-class quality and taste we offer,” said Garcia.

Last January, Mekeni made their Kikiam and Fish Balls available on the West Coast also through its partnership with Island Pacific Supermarket, one of the area's biggest Asian/Filipino supermarkets.

The products were widely accepted by the Filipino community on the West Coast. Stocks immediately ran low just a few days after the new products were announced by Island Pacific on their Facebook page.

“We received a lot of positive feedback from families, friends, and friends of friends in the US. Some even asked us to bring more Mekeni products, said Marilou Uy, Mekeni AVP for Export. This inspired Mekeni to speed up its efforts to bring its tocino to the US.

“This is a major feat for a brand like Mekeni that started as a backyard business of a simple family. This milestone is a celebration of the efforts of the whole Mekeni family through the years,” Garcia said.

Before the US, Mekeni exported food products to international markets such as Dubai, Bahrain, Brunei, Qatar, Australia, Canada, and the UK. It is also the first company accredited by the Japanese government to export cooked products to the country.

For over 30 years, it has been known for its world-class manufacturing capabilities. Mekeni is the first in Asia and the second in the world to receive the certificate of compliance with ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System standard. In 2012 and 2013, Mekeni received the Century International Quality ERA Award (Gold Category) in Switzerland and The International Arch of Europe Platinum Award in Germany, respectively, which further cemented its commitment to food safety and quality.

For more information about their products, visit Mekeni’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mekeniph.

Mekeni: Fire up your entrepreneurial spirit with your own timpla of success

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The Philippines is a country of resourceful and resilient people. Despite the loss of livelihood and business closures during the lockdowns, the entrepreneurial spirit of Filipinos never seemed to falter.

Mekeni Food Corporation, one of the leading food manufacturing companies in the country, embodies the unfaltering entrepreneurial spirit of Filipinos. It started as a backyard business of a simple Kapampangan family, but through hard work and dedication, it became a homegrown food brand that offers products here and abroad.

Mekeni's story continues to inspire and drive other businesses to aspire for something greater. Through the years, and the ups and downs that the company experienced, it has developed its own timpla of service and care. To fire up every Pinoy’s entrepreneurial spirit, Mekeni shares their recipe to success, which Filipinos can replicate to fit their goals.

Stand out by offering the best products

Customers nowadays are more discerning. They want to get the best product for the best price. There is a wide-range of products you can offer—both for food and non-food. Mekeni’s rule of thumb on this aspect is to commit to offering the best quality products at reasonable prices. Remember that your skill at choosing the best product is crucial to your success.

Have a trusted business partner

Selling is the easy part of owning a business, but sustaining its growth is a whole new level. Find a reliable partner to help you grow your venture. For Mekeni, having a good relationship with its distributors, retail partners, and customers has helped them weather storms and challenges. It is also important that your values and objectives are aligned to ensure that you are headed towards the same direction.

Know your customers

As a micropreneur, knowing your customer base is the first step to being on top of the game. Mekeni puts emphasis on the importance of doing market research for a micropreneur to know more about the customers and their competitions.

Find out what matters to your customers. Does premium products matter to them most? Or do they put more importance on price point? How do they consume information—through digital or traditional media?

Knowing your competitors will also help you determine how to position your products and what niche you want to conquer.

With information such as these, you get to know what kinds of offers, products, and services would be appealing to your prospective target market.

Maximize your social media use

Almost everyone these days is online. Step up your marketing by putting an effort to tell your customers who you are, what you sell, and why they should buy from you. You do not need to be everywhere, but you need to be where your customers are and be consistent.

“It has always been our mission to uplift the lives of our communities and beyond—whether by offering quality products or forging partnerships. Knowing your stakeholders and valuing what is important to them is one of the keys to become a successful entrepreneur,” said Mekeni President Prudencio Garcia. “More importantly, setting a clear goal is an important ingredient to success.”

There is no specific formula to driving a business to success. However, Mekeni believes that embedding these fundamental principles in your processes can definitely propel your business to greater heights.

To know more about Mekeni, its products, and business opportunities, visit its official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mekeniph

Mekeni leaders, employees kicked off a hopeful year

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April marks a new fiscal year for Mekeni Food Corporation, one of the leading food manufacturers in Luzon.

To celebrate this new beginning, the company gathered its leaders and department heads in a simple event held recently in Marriott Clark to discuss their way forward.

Mekeni President Prudencio S. Garcia talks before Mekeni employees during the company’s kickoff event held at Marriott Clark

“For two years, we threaded thru the competition through virtual meetings and coordination. It was especially hard for us because before COVID, we experienced one of the greatest threats in our business,” said Prudencio S. Garcia, president of Mekeni. “We looked at 2020 as our renewal year, and although it did not go as planned, the last two years gave us valuable lessons for us to further realize our mission.”

Not new to challenges, the company is bullish about its operations this 2022.

Despite the threats and challenges brought by COVID-19, African Swine Fever, supply chain issues, and global conflicts, Mekeni managed to improve its revenue, launch a new product line for entrepreneurs; grow its business in Visayas and Mindanao; maintain presence in export markets such as in Dubai, Australia Brunei, Bahrain, and just recently, its marine products are exported to the US.

Last February, it also launched its new campaign—Timplang Atin, Timplang Mekeni—and the new look of its flagship store and products, which signaled a new chapter for the brand.

Earlier this year, Mekeni unveiled the new look of its family specialties.

Photo shows Mekeni's flagship store - Mekeni Marketplace – which is nestled in the same location where founders Felix and Meding Garcia started the Pampanga-based food manufacturing company.

In the event, Garcia thanked its employees for their role in the success of Mekeni.

“Our people are instrumental on why and how we survived the difficult times; and this event is a celebration of all our achievements, especially the past two years. Moreover, we are here to remind each other of our bigger purpose—to raise others,” he said.

Despite the uncertainties brought by the COVID pandemic, Mekeni remained true to its mission to serve the community through its social responsibility programs such as Galing ng Batang Mekeni, community pantry donations, emergency response efforts, and annual gift giving activity to select organizations.

Mekeni is intent on growing the business here and abroad, and continue helping its community. “Now that the company’s priorities are set—end consumers, business partners, and employees—you can expect a better Mekeni in the coming months and years,” Garcia concluded.

Give in to your cravings and recreate these late-night snacks at home - Fill yourself up with #TimplangAtin snacks made with Mekeni

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We all know that feeling of intense hunger pangs in the middle of the night, and going to bed while your stomach is growling can be such a nightmare, right?

We have all been there. Late-night food cravings are so real that we are often faced with a problem if it is worth getting up and fixing ourselves some snacks. Whether you are binge-watching a series, finishing some tasks, or just simply hitting the sack, we have a few ideas for you that would satisfy those cravings with less guilt!

Turn your hunger into joy with these #TimplangAtin snacks using Mekeni GoLite Chicken Longanisa!

Guiltless Bread Pizza

Upgrade your leftover loaves of bread into an instant, tasty, and guiltless variation of pizza. All you need is to have a few ingredients and your guiltlessly tasty snack is ready. Here is how to make it:

Ingredients:

● 6 large wheat bread or multi grain bread (preferred)

● Extra virgin olive oil

Toppings For Bread Pizza

● Pizza sauce

● 1 medium onion, cubed

● 1 medium bell pepper, cubed

● 1 medium tomato, cubed (optional)

● 5 pieces Mekeni GoLite Chicken Longanisa, steamed and cubed

● 1 to 1 1/4 cups grated mozzarella cheese or quick melt cheese

● pepper and chili flakes to taste

Procedure

1. Start by lightly toasting the bread on your pan. Use oil as needed. 

2. Arrange your pizza bread by spreading some pizza sauce on the lightly toasted side of the bread while still on the pan. Top it with onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, other optional vegetables like basil and olives, and the gluten-free Mekeni GoLite Chicken Longanisa pieces. Remember to keep the flame to its lowest to not burn your bread pizza.

3. Add some crushed black pepper depending on your taste. 

4. Top your bread pizza with grated mozzarella cheese or any quick-melt cheese that you have. Place a lid on the bread pizza and cook until the cheese melts and the bread is toasted.

5. Remove the piece with a spatula and place it on a serving plate. Sprinkle some red chili flakes or oregano if you want.

6. Serve while it is hot.

Chicken Longanisa Tteokbokki

If you are still hungover from the last Korean chick flick or KDrama that you recently binged watch on, cook up this easy and guiltless tteokbokki!

Ingredients:

● 1 pack Mekeni GoLite Chicken Longanisa 250g, cut diagonally into coins

● 3 tbsp oil

● 1/4 cup garlic, minced (about 12 cloves)

● 1 large white onion, sliced into strips

● 4 cups water

● 1 tsp soy sauce

● 2 tsp sugar

● 1 1/2 tsp dashi powder or seasoning granules

● 2 tbsp gochujang (Korean red pepper paste)

● 3 cups Korean rice cakes (about 42 pcs)

● sliced spring onions or leeks and sesame seeds for garnish

Procedure:

1. Put oil in the pan and fry the Mekeni GOLite Chicken Longanisa pieces until lightly brown. After this, transfer to a bowl and set aside.

2. In the same pan, sauté garlic and onion until fragrant and translucent.

3. Add water, sugar, soy sauce, seasoning granules, and gochujang. Let it boil.

4. Gently add the rice cakes and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the rice cakes are soft.

5. Put the Mekeni GOLite Chicken Longanisa back in the pan and slowly simmer for about a minute until heated through.

6. Top with spring onions and sesame seeds. Serve while hot.

There is no holding you back from getting creative in your kitchen and making these tasty and filling late-night snack ideas! With your favorite Mekeni #TimplangAting staples on the side, you are sure to curb your late-night cravings in a snap.

Get your Mekeni products in leading supermarkets, wet markets, online stores, and Mekeni’s Home2Home delivery. For more information about Mekeni, just log on to www.facebook.com/mekeniph/.

Mekeni street foods – Kikiam and Fish Balls - are now available in the US

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Mekeni makes waves in the US, brings street food faves to the West Coast

Mekeni Kikiam and Fish Balls now available in Island Pacific Supermarket

Mekeni Food Corporation, one of the largest food manufacturing companies in the country, has laid its foothold in the US market by bringing its packed street food products to the West Coast this January.

“If there is one thing that Filipinos living abroad miss a lot, it is probably their favorite street food. Through our partnership with Island Pacific Supermarket, one of the biggest Asian/Filipino supermarkets in the West Coast, we are bringing them not just authentic Pinoy flavors, but also the feeling that they are closer to home through our products,” said Mekeni President Prudencio S. Garcia.

Mekeni Kikiam and Fish Balls are available in 17 branches of Island Pacific Supermarket across California and Nevada. According to Garcia, this is just the start for Mekeni as they are looking into making their products available in other parts of the US.

Mekeni street food products are available in all branches of Seafood Island Supermarket

“The past two years has been challenging. What inspired us, however, to push forward with this is our desire to showcase what Timplang Atin is like to the rest of the world. We want to give them access to quality and taste that Mekeni can bring,” said Garcia.

Aside from kikiam and fish balls, Mekeni is also eyeing to bring their flagship products such as tocino, gluten-free chicken longanisa, and hotdog to the US.

Before the US, Mekeni has maintained its supply of food products to existing international markets such as Dubai, Bahrain, Brunei, Australia, Canada, and UK. Mekeni is also the first Filipino food company allowed by the Japanese government to export products to the country.

Garcia noted that by expanding their market, they also get to uplift the lives of their communities that are depending on them. “We have always been committed to helping our communities through generating jobs and creating product lines that can sustain their income. Bringing our products to the US could mean expanding our operations and employing more people across the supply chain amid the pandemic,” Garcia closed.

Locally, Mekeni also exclusively manufactures Bayani, a street food line for entrepreneurs. Its product range includes Filipino snack favorites such as siomai, siopao, squid balls, fish balls, chicken balls, and kikiam.

For over 30 years, the Pampanga-based food manufacturing company has been known for its manufacturing capabilities recognized worldwide. Mekeni is the first in Asia and the second in the world overall to receive the certificate of compliance to ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System standard.

For more information about their products, visit Mekeni’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mekeniph.

Mekeni kicks off 2022 with a fresher, newer look: Celebrates Timplang Atin with new brand visuals and campaign song

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Mekeni Food Corporation made a big leap forward as it embarked on a major brand refresh, strengthening its position as a homegrown family brand in the Philippines.

Kicking off 2022 is the rollout of Mekeni’s new brand packaging, product lines, and a new campaign song that reflects the brand’s heritage and core values. With this brand refresh, Mekeni shows how the homegrown brand from Pampanga, continues to serve Timplang Atin to Filipino families for more than three decades.

“Welcoming 2022 with new branding signals a new era for us at Mekeni. We wanted to send a clear message that we are evolving, innovating, and growing with our customers. Today, more than ever, we want to assure our customers of the quality and taste that we bring to the table reflected throughout this new brand experience we have created. It is a Timplang Atin experience leveled up to cater to our customers' changing needs,” said Mekeni President Prudencio S. Garcia.

New look but still the same family specialties that you love

New look, same Timplang Atin quality and taste that families love

Starting with the packaging, Mekeni launched its new design with bold colors and appetizing photos of the products. “With this new visual identity, we will be able to create a stronger brand image in the market. We wanted to get the consumers’ attention right away by putting the spotlight on our products and the new product lines, front and center,” said Garcia.

The new packaging featured the new product lines namely Mekeni Gold, Mekeni GoLite, Mekeni Specials, and Mekeni Suki Choice. Under these new categories are various Mekeni products that Filipino families love.

Mekeni Gold products are specialties made of high-quality meat and premium ingredients, carefully selected to deliver nothing but the best to everyone in the family. One of the premium products included in this line is Garlic Longanisa, a native viand well-loved by Filipinos that is made from premium pork and peppered with garlic and other spices.

Meanwhile, Mekeni GoLite products are those that consumers can enjoy guiltlessly, without compromising on taste and affordability. These products, which are healthier alternatives to the usual ones, are prepared and processed with the Filipino’s health in mind. The products under this category include gluten-free Chicken Longanisa, zero trans-fat Yogurt Sausage, and fatless Pork Tocino.

As for the Mekeni Specials, these are the Mekeni specialty brands that are meant to make each meal even more remarkable. It has the widest array of products that shows how Mekeni is committed to serving great-tasting family specialties all day. Among the Mekeni Specials are the Classic Pork Tocino and the Tamis-Alat Pork Tocino that has the right balance of sweet and salty flavors, as well as the Beef Tapa, Skinless Longanisa, Sweet Ham, Chicken Nuggets, and Sisig.

And lastly, Mekeni Suki Choice is composed of tasty and budget-friendly products that Filipinos can serve at home every day. This range includes All Day Bacon, Sliced Bologna, and Luncheon Meat.

Apart from these, Mekeni’s flagship hotdog brand, Mekeni Picnic Hotdog, had new packaging designs.

“This year, we wanted to show a more cohesive look and feel through the brand refresh. We also aimed to highlight that though we have preferences, there is a Timplang Atin favorite from Mekeni to satisfy that,” shared Garcia.

https://fb.watch/b5At6i9AtB/

New brand jingle to sing and dance along with

Along with the new brand visuals, Mekeni also launched a new campaign jingle and video that embody the brand’s attribute of bringing world-class quality and flavors to every Filipino home.

The 2-minute song takes consumers on a high-energy journey with its danceable beat and easy-to-remember lyrics. With the jingle, Mekeni showcases why Mekeni is the consumer’s brand of choice when it comes to variety, quality, and taste.

Photo shows the renovated Mekeni Marketplace, the flagship outlet of the Pampanga-based food manufacturing company

A Mekeni Marketplace for everyone

Just last year, Mekeni formally opened its newly renovated flagship factory outlet in Porac, Pampanga. Called the Mekeni Marketplace, the store stands in the same place where founders Felix and Meding Garcia first envisioned the family business.

The renovated store offers Mekeni’s family favorites from hotdog to longanisa. It also has sections for ready-to-cook and fresh meat products that are perfect for every Filipino family meal.

The all-new Mekeni Marketplace has furnishings and elements that exude a refreshing and homey vibe. Its sleek and modern design is complemented with spacious pathways and a waiting area that allowed safe and convenient shopping for the customers. It radiates the simple yet warm Filipino hospitality that the brand identifies with.

A new chapter for Mekeni

Aside from these changes, one of Mekeni’s feat this first quarter of 2022 is the introduction of select street food products in the US. Last month, Mekeni announced that its Kikiam and Fish Balls are now available in Island Pacific Supermarket, a Filipino-American supermarket chain with 17 branches across California and Nevada. With its authentic Pinoy flavor, it brings Filipinos in the US back home.

The last couple of years have been tumultuous for companies like Mekeni. With the restrictions brought by the pandemic, many of its plans were halted. However, the silver lining to this is that Mekeni was able to reflect on their mission.

“The opening of Mekeni Marketplace, launching of our new packaging, and availability of our street food products in the US have set the pace for us in introducing the brand in a new light this year. These changes symbolize that amid all the challenges we are currently facing, we are not losing sight of our mission to continue to uplift the lives of our communities,” Garcia closed.

To know more about Mekeni’s newer and fresher look, visit the official Mekeni Facebook page.

Mekeni makes #TimplangAtin experience more delightful this 2022

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Mekeni Food Corporation will be launching new things this year, signaling a new chapter in the food manufacturing giant’s history.

“Something big is coming your way this year and we could not be more excited for what is to come. We are bringing the Timplang Atin experience to a whole new level in the coming months,” said Mekeni President Prudencio S. Garcia.

Mekeni started its #TimplangAtin campaign to convey what the brand has to offer to Filipino families here and abroad—quality and taste that can capture hearts and palates, satisfying the different taste preferences of Filipinos. Through this campaign, Mekeni highlights its long-time commitment of delivering flavors that truly represent the Filipino palate.

The Pampanga-based food manufacturing company has already started teasing its customers about what they will be launching this 2022. On its Facebook page, the brand posted an 18-second teaser of a song, suggesting an imminent launch of a campaign jingle. Prior to that, Mekeni also shared that something is coming to get the whole family moving and grooving.

Last month, Mekeni unveiled its flagship store called Mekeni Marketplace in Porac, Pampanga—the place where founders Felix and Meding Garcia first envisioned the family business. The store offers family favorites such as Mekeni Picnic Hotdog, Mekeni GoLite Gluten-free Chicken Longanisa; and Mekeni Classic Sweet and Tamis-Alat Tocino. It also has sections for ready-to-cook and fresh meat products that are perfect for every Filipino family meal.

From being a backyard enterprise in 1986, Mekeni has become a world-class meat processing company and a homegrown brand loved by Filipino families here and abroad. Mekeni has continued to delight its customers with #TimplangAtin specialties that make every mealtime special and even more memorable. Even if Filipinos have a variety of tastes, Mekeni can cater to their preferences by creating food products that are nothing but the gold standard in taste and quality.

“We’ve been in the food business for over 35 years that is why we think it is high time for us to show that we are continuously innovating and making improvements to the brand. We are making significant changes in the next months, and we encourage our customers to stay tuned for what is in store for them,” said Garcia.

To know more about this exciting news, visit Mekeni’s official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mekeniph.

Elevate your Christmas feast with these Pinoy hams, Mekeni offers #TimplangAtin Christmas hams in four varieties

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The way Pinoys celebrate Christmas stands out from the rest of the world. Pre-pandemic, streets and homes are decked out with parols and twinkling lights and Christmas carols are blasting from every establishment’s speakers as early as September.

We also make it a point to have something special on the table for the family to partake as one of the highlights of Paskong Pinoy is Noche Buena; and usually, the star of this annual feast is Christmas Ham.

Mekeni Christmas Hams are available in five variants (L-R) – Gold Premium Ham, Deli Premium Ham, Piña Ham, Pear-Shaped Ham, and Brick Ham.

Our love for this handa is reflected by the variety of Christmas Hams available in the market—from the classic pineapple-flavored to smoky ham. When it comes to quality and delicious hams, Mekeni will make your celebration even more joyful and festive with its variety of family-favorite Christmas Hams.

Have a golden feast with Mekeni Gold Premium Ham

Smoky and aromatic hams are such a holiday classic. But while almost all store-bought hams are already smoked, Mekeni takes their premium ham a notch higher. Every piece has been soaked in a rare blend of exotic herbs and spices. This variety carries Mekeni’s gold standard in food manufacturing as it is made from the choicest pork cuts, so you are sure that each bite is super moist and juicy!

Stick to the tradition with Mekeni Deli Ham

There is something special about Mekeni’s no-frills, ready-to-eat, traditional deli ham. It’s succulent and tender, and every slice has just the right amount of marbling.

True to its name, the Mekeni Deli Ham is Deli-ciously good! This variety is aromatic and smoky, but it is more on the sweet side, it will make you want more. Kids and kids-at-heart will surely love a piece of Mekeni Deli Ham because of its traditional sweet-savory taste. This is the type of ham you will still want to eat with bread even after Christmas because of its bold flavor.

Pineapple is A-okay in Mekeni Piña Ham

If you are a fan of fruity hams, Mekeni’s Piña Ham is the ultimate #TimplangAtin ham that you could ever wish for! It has the right balance of smoky, sweet, and salty flavors. It is perfectly seasoned and glazed with a rich coating of pineapple sauce, making you finish your ham with so much gusto in no time.

Its zesty flavor makes Mekeni Piña Ham a real holiday treat. Its pineapple taste is not too overpowering so that you will feel like having more than just a slice.

Mekeni Pear-Shaped Ham

There is nothing more festive than a juicy ham for Noche Buena. But if you are on a budget, you can still make your holiday feast special with Mekeni’s Pear-Shaped Ham. This shaped ham is juicy, lean, and fits your budget. It is made from the choicest meat, cured with seasonings and spices that will tickle your Pinoy tastebuds. And although this one does not have that glazed or caramel crust that Pinoys adore, its succulent meat makes up for it.

Time to usher in the holidays and make it truly #TimplangAtin with these Mekeni Christmas Hams. 

These are available in wet markets nationwide, Mekeni Home2Home Delivery, and Mekeni Food Outlets.

What makes a #MomApproved meal? Try these mom-approved tips to help your kids eat better

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Is your child a fussy eater?

You are not alone, mommy! Most of the time, moms feel that their efforts go unnoticed as their children turn away from the delicious and filling meals they serve. Even though it is considered normal for growing kids,^[1] this kind of behavior needs parental intervention because this may lead to skipping meals.

But no matter how picky they are, there are a lot of things you can do to help your kids eat better. Mekeni Food Corporation listed down mom-approved tips you should consider to make mealtime more enjoyable for your little ones.

Add a dash of creativity

We all eat with our eyes first and yes, even kids do that! Make mealtime exciting for your kids with the way you plate and present food to them. Infuse various tastes, vivid colors, and even texture to the dish you serve just like how a gourmet meal is served in a fancy restaurant. Surely, kids will want to eat their food right away!

You can also put a twist to their meals by adding different styles and layering different tastes to tickle their taste buds. Hotdog in a bun? Boring. Grilled cheese hotdog sandwich topped with shredded cheddar cheese, some pickle relish, and a dollop of mayo and mustard? Divine! Play with shapes too or their favorite cartoon characters by serving their meals bento-style.

Sprinkle consistency to daily meal

One of the factors that can influence kids’ eating habits is time. Make sure that you put consistency in their mealtime by setting up a routine especially on what time they should have their breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as snack times.

You can also make their everyday meals more nutritious by mixing veggies into their favorites and creating a totally different meal! How does roasted veggies with tiny pieces of hotdog and ham sound? 

Drizzle mealtimes with delightful memories

Who says you can only bond over mealtime? Involve your children in food preparation so they can learn at an early stage and feel the fulfillment in preparing and serving food to the family. Not only that you get to make memories with them while in the kitchen, but you can make them feel more invested in the meal.

By involving them in food preparation, you can also tickle their creativity. Allow them to experiment on shapes and flavors that will let them enjoy the food more!

Top off mealtimes with love

Sharing meals with the whole family is one of the best ways to help kids eat better and maintain a happy heart. This does not only allow you and your kids to talk, but this also enhances their health and well-being. Didn’t you notice? Kids are happier when everyone at home is at the table and happily eating together.

All these mom-approved tips are proven and tested to make mealtimes even more fun for kids, just like Mekeni Food Corporation’s PICNIC Hotdog! Available in Red and Cheesy Brown variants, moms can attest that kids and kids-at-heart love its juicy, delicious, and meaty flavor in every bite. #PicnicIsMomApproved as it makes eating time more fun and exciting!

Mekeni PICNIC Red Hotdog and Cheesy Brown Hotdog are available in 250g, 450g, 500g, and 1kg packages in all leading supermarkets, wet markets, online stores, and Mekeni’s Home2Home delivery service.

^[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316224/

 

Mekeni employees extend goodwill to communities with gift-giving activities amid pandemic

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Christmas came early for four select institutions in Pampanga as Mekeni Food Corporation employees spearheaded the company’s annual gift-giving tradition.

Beneficiaries from the Bahay Pag-ibig (home for the aged), Munting Tahanan ng Nazareth (for special and abandoned children), Duyan ni Maria (home for abandoned children), and Children’s Home of Immaculate Mary (home for abandoned children) received special gift packs which Mekeni employees gathered using the funds the management and they themselves raised.

Mekeni continues its annual gift-giving activity. Four institutions in Pampanga received gift packs good for three to six months.

“Christmas is all about giving but more than the gifts we have given our communities, we aspire to spread hope amidst these difficult times we are facing. We know that due to the pandemic, celebrating Christmas will not be the same this year. But we will not let this dampen the yuletide spirit as we ought to make this season more meaningful than ever,” said Mekeni’s Head of HR, Marilou Uy.

Mekeni has been doing this annual gift-giving program since 2008. However, due to the health concerns surrounding COVID-19, the program had to be done differently. Rather than going to the institutions and holding a program, Mekeni employees had to drop off the gifts in designated areas to ensure safety precautions can be maintained.

With the support of the management, Mekeni employees were able to provide joy to their beneficiaries through grocery packages that can sustain their basic food and hygiene requirements for the next three to six months.

“We hope to give memorable experiences and lasting memories for our beneficiaries through our annual gift-giving tradition. But this year, despite the challenges, we go over and beyond our mission by reminding them that whatever the pandemic throws at us, we will continue to serve them and uplift the quality of their lives in every way we can,” Uy said.

Apart from giving gifts to their partner communities, Mekeni did not hesitate to continue looking after the well-being of those who are beyond their circle. When disasters badly hit several places in Luzon, Mekeni employees showed their malasakit and perseverance to help the devastated communities through donation drives.

Mekeni employees prepared hot meals for the victims of Taal Volcano

In February 2020, after the Taal Volcano erupted, the company, together with the local government of Porac, Red Cross Rizal Chapter, and Rotary Club of San Juan del Monte, immediately went to Agoncillo, Batangas and held an outreach program for those who were affected. More than 2,000 hot meals were prepared and provided by the employees on-site.

Recently, food packs were turned over to the flood victims in the town of Macabebe and to the Aeta communities in Porac, Pampanga that have been hit by Typhoons Rolly and Ulysses. The indigenous communities were given gift packs consisting of food and other essentials. Mekeni also participated in outreach activities in Bicol by donating products for a feeding program there.

“Malasakit in the time of adversity is much-needed by our fellow Filipinos these days. As we ensure that our own employees and their families are safe and well-provided, we are also helping other communities to recover after being hit by natural disasters on top of the physical and economic problems that the pandemic has brought to them. We will continue reaching out to more communities to address their needs during these trying times,” said Mekeni President Prudencio S. Garcia.

Check out these #MomApproved activities for the busy mom and kids, Make MOMents even more memorable with Mekeni Picnic Hotdog

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The COVID-19 pandemic has been a life-changing experience for all of us. In a snap, lifestyles changed and work-from-home setup, as well as distance learning, have become the new norm. If you think that juggling parenting and working has been harder these days, you are not alone.

As a parent, you are expected to attend to your kids’ needs 24/7. While you try to balance everything despite your hectic schedule, making more time for your kids should always be on top of your daily list. But, how to?

Moms' love will never change, just like Mekeni Picnic Hotdog

If there is anything that the pandemic is teaching us, it is that the unwavering love of moms will never change even if the new normal is here. Mekeni Picnic Hotdog has put together some of the #MomApproved activities to help you bond with your kids whether it’s to play, teach, or entertain them in this time of a pandemic.

 

Engage your kids in household chores like cooking

For influencers Rowena Wendy Lei (@animetric) and Janice Lim (@mommyplannerista), engaging kids in doing household chores like cooking will not only keep them busy at home. This will also create lasting memories that they can take as they grow older.

“I figure that even if juggling life as a work-at-home mom is hard especially in the new normal, I can still show them how much I love them by spending quality time with them. Cooking together is a great activity that not only teaches them a useful skill but also allows us to have some bonding time,” Mommy Janice said.

Do some light exercises with them

Take some time off work and do some light exercises at home with your kids. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, kids should be getting at least an hour of physical activities every day, in addition to an hour of bone-strengthening and muscle-strengthening exercises three times a week. Make this exercise at home activity with your kids even more fun by changing the routine from time to time.

Stimulate their minds with board games

For mommy influencer Peachy (@thepeachkitchen), moms can also stimulate their kids’ minds through various activities like playing board games! She even said, “Kahit gaano tayo ka-busy, dapat may bonding moments pa rin. Bukod sa panonood ng movies, hilig namin ni Ykaie at Twinkle maglaro ng board games at storytime.”

Set a family movie night

Since everyone is most likely at home while in quarantine, you can set a movie night with the whole bunch! Take turns in choosing the movie of the week and then snuggle up to watch it on a weekend night. And, don’t forget the snacks! Surely, your kids will love every minute of it.

 

Learn a new skill or pick up a new hobby

Isolation can be downright boring. This is why even while at home, kids need to develop hobbies or learn new skills to keep them busy. May it be singing, dancing, playing instruments, or creative writing, there are a lot of online classes you can take with them that will hone their skills and pique their interest.

Savor these rare moments that you get to spend quality time with your kids at home. Make these experiences even more memorable by serving them food that is #MomApproved like Mekeni Picnic Hotdog! Know why #MomsPickPicnic as you make the most out of every MOMent with every bite of Mekeni Picnic Hotdog!

 

And while you give your kids their favorite Mekeni Picnic Hotdog, you can get a chance to win exciting prizes at the Picnic Mom-Approved Raffle. All you have to do is to buy any variant of your favorite Picnic hotdog and post a creative photo of you and your kid with the pack on Facebook. Don’t forget to add a caption as to why you chose Mekeni Picnic Hotdog for your kid and use the hashtags #PicnicMOMents, #MomsPickPicnic, and #PicnicIsMomApproved. Check out Mekeni PH’s official Facebook page to know more about the raffle.

How Mekeni conquered life’s challenges to be where they are today

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Mekeni is one of the most successful brands not only in the Philippines, but throughout Asia. But like any successful company today, Mekeni started as a small family business. And like any successful business, Mekeni experienced several crises throughout its life—and conquered every single one of them.

It was in 1991 when the company experienced its first major crisis with the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June of that year. Back then, Mekeni was just a small business with less than 25 employees, operated by Tatay Felix and Imang Meding Garcia—former public school teachers who started a small business with their life savings— and their sons Doods and Nards in the backyard of their home in Porac, Pampanga.

When Mount Pinatubo erupted, Porac was one of the most devastated in the province, and their backyard meat processing plant was almost completely destroyed. But instead of being disheartened and losing hope because of seemingly insurmountable odds, they decided to steel their resolve and help their kababayans by providing livelihoods and uplifting their community.

Mekeni founder Tatay Felix Garcia (4th from left) poses with sons (from L to R) VP for Admin and Finance Angelito Garcia, VP for Supply Chain Management Adrian Garcia, VP for Sales and Marketing Nardo Garcia, President Pruds Garcia, and VP for Manufacturing Diosdado Garcia. Pruds and his brothers have been helping the company grow even as it faced different crises throughout the years.

By enlisting their children’s help, including their sons Adrian, Pruds and Lito, who were then based overseas, they made it their life’s mission to make a difference in the lives of others.

“It was the peak of my career,” said Pruds Garcia, president of Mekeni, recounting his time working as an accountant in Saudi Arabia. “But I had to leave my high-paying job so that I can go back and help my parents rebuild the business.”

Eventually, the business recovered and even grew exponentially thereafter. By 1994, a new processing plant had been constructed with a capacity to process 3,000 kilos of meat a day, which operated 24 hours daily. Employee count had also grown to about 35 people, all of them neighbors of the Garcia family. But not long after, back-to-back challenges sprung up but this did not dishearten the family behind Mekeni. 

Though the thought of closing down the business crossed their mind, a timely reminder from their father helped them make the right decisions. “My father said: ‘Son, I just want to remind you the reason why you came back. It's not for us, it's not for you. It's for the people’,” Garcia recounted.

Through perseverance and dedication, the family got through the obstacles they faced and enjoyed a period of growth and success that propelled the company to what it is now—one of the most awarded processed meat companies in the country.

Over the years, Mekeni has encountered many problems, but they always went back to the most important things to them: their people and their community. This kept them centered. And now that the country faces one of the greatest challenges in our history, Garcia has a simple advice for businesses of all sizes.

“In times of crisis, you go back to the mission and vision of the company,” he said.

Having experienced numerous major crises over the course of its life, Mekeni has proven that with hard work, perseverance, and a profound sense of dedication to service, any business, no matter the size, can conquer any challenge that life throws at it.

“Crises will always be there. The important thing is to always go back to your ‘why.’ Why did you start this business? You can always change the process, you can always change the strategy, but never that goal,” Garcia said.