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.

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 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.