Last March, 11 companies from the food sector in the Spanish region of Andalusia embarked on a trade mission to the Philippines. Organized by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines and Extenda, the trade promotion agency of Andalusia, the mission aimed at exploring export opportunities for Andalusian food products in the Philippine market.
During their visit, the Andalusian companies, including Azzayt, Rafael Salgado, Grupo Ybarra, Angel Camacho, and Echinac, which are known for their production of oils; Tartessos and Brotherhood Quality, specializing in Iberian products; and Luxeapers, Espadafor, La Abuela Carmen, and Montealbor, which export sauces, olives, and garlic, among others, held productive meetings with local importers to discuss potential business collaborations.
Apart from the business meetings, the Andalusian companies also took part in various networking events to promote their products. This included a cocktail party hosted by the Spanish Ambassador, Paola Castro, at her residence, and a dinner and cooking show at Terry’s Bistro in Makati, which was attended by nearly 60 importers.
Renowned chef Juan Carlos Terry, who hails from Andalusia, took charge of preparing a special dinner featuring dishes and wines from the region for the event at Terry’s Bistro. Importers and distributors were able to sample the products brought by the trade mission, giving them a firsthand experience of the high quality and unique flavors of Andalusian food products.
Chef Terry, known for his chain of restaurants and delis in El Puerto de Santa Maria (Andalusia), has also been a speaker at Madrid Fusion Manila, among other culinary events. His presence at the trade mission added a touch of authenticity and expertise, further highlighting the culinary excellence of Andalusian food products.
The trade mission to the Philippines was a significant opportunity for the Andalusian food companies to expand their export markets and promote their products in the Southeast Asian region. Through fruitful meetings with local importers and participation in networking events, the Andalusian companies were able to showcase their high-quality food products and establish potential business partnerships in the Philippines, further strengthening the trade relations between Andalusia and the Philippines in the food sector.
