The New Zealand Food Connection in the Philippines

More than 100 Philippine food and beverage influencers enjoyed a taste of great New Zealand products this week as New Zealand Food Connection kicked off in Manila.

Eight New Zealand food and beverage producers presented at Food Connection, an exclusive trade show designed to connect New Zealand’s exceptional quality food and beverage offerings with demand in the Philippines. Attendees enjoyed a VIP lunch starring premium New Zealand products.

Featured products included New Zealand wines and all natural, non-alcoholic beverages. Wine and beverages are among New Zealand’s fastest growing export products to the Philippines, with nearly two million litres exported in the year to March 2015 – growth of nearly a third in just one year.

New Zealand dairy is a household staple in the Philippines, one of New Zealand’s top dairy export destinations. New Zealand Food Connection highlighted the household name Anchor products, as well as a brand Filipinos love: New Zealand Natural ice-cream, which is known for its natural ingredients and huge variety of delicious flavours.

“The Philippines is a close friend of New Zealand, and it’s great to see Filipinos enjoying New Zealand products,” says Hernando Banal, New Zealand’s Trade Commissioner to the Philippines.

“While New Zealand dairy has always been popular, more diverse New Zealand products are now found in stores, hotels and restaurants like wine, non-alcoholic beverages and meat.”

The value in New Zealand exports to the Philippines has increased 21% in the last two years to March 2015, with a value of more than 22 billion Pesos.