Century Food Eyes "unMeat" Food Items

Century Pacific Food, Inc. (PSE: CNPF), one of the leading food and beverage companies in the Philippines, continues to explore opportunities in plant-based alternatives with 'unMEAT.'

To date, 'unMEAT' is available on the shelves of major retailers such as Walmart, Albertsons, Harris Teeter, HEB, and Meijer in the US, Carrefour in the UAE, and FairPrice in Singapore. I Photo: Unmeat Philippines Facebook

The brand recently made its mark in Australia with its debut in Woolworths and expanded its product range at Walmart USA.

Leading the global rollout of 'unMEAT' is Greg Banzon, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of CNPF.

He shared, "The underlying idea behind plant-based alternatives remains the same, as per the company disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange. Consumers are seeking healthier and more environmentally friendly food choices. As a food company, we must address these needs through innovation and reduce barriers by making options more affordable and accessible."

According to Banzon, the company continues to see promising prospects in this category. In Australia, the consumption of plant-based food is on the rise, with one in three Australians consciously reducing their meat consumption.

Woolworths, Australia's largest supermarket chain, now offers 'unMEAT' in 960 stores nationwide.

The brand is also available on the retail giant's e-commerce platform. 'unMEAT' entered the chain with its range of plant-based Luncheon Meat in a shelf-stable format, all priced similarly to luncheon meat analogs.

Meanwhile, 'unMEAT' continues to gain traction in the United States. In early 2023, 'unMEAT Luncheon Meat' made its debut at Walmart in approximately 1,800 stores.

Given the positive reception from consumers and the strong performance of the launch, Walmart expanded the shelf-stable range to provide more plant-based options to its shoppers.

Three new innovations were added to the line, namely 'unMEAT' Meat-Free Chili with Beans, Chicken Style Chunks, and Roast Beef Style.

"Developing the plant-based alternatives category requires innovation, not only in terms of the protein source but also in variety. In addition to reducing price disparities, we need to offer consumers more entry points through a wider selection," said Banzon.

CNPF entered the plant-based sector in 2020 with the official launch of 'unMEAT' through an affiliate company, Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc. (PSE: PIZZA). This was followed by the introduction of its frozen range in the domestic retail market in 2021.

In the same year, to accelerate the brand's growth, 'unMEAT' began its international rollout in select markets, including the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Singapore, and China.

To date, 'unMEAT' is available on the shelves of major retailers such as Walmart, Albertsons, Harris Teeter, HEB, and Meijer in the US, Carrefour in the UAE, and FairPrice in Singapore, among others.

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