Barrio Fiesta posts higher sales

MANILA, Philippines - International sales of Barrio Fiesta food products continued picking up on the back of strong demand from Filipinos living and working overseas.

In a statement, listed Splash Corp.’s international business said sales of Barrio Fiesta food products, condiments and mixes to international markets jumped 26 percent to P119 million last year “driven by strong 46-percent growth in North America.”

In the first quarter, Barrio Fiesta sales inched up one percent to P22.37 million, contributing to the four-percent growth in total international food sales to P29.2 million, Splash said.

“Barrio Fiesta is not only well known in the Philippines but also well loved by Filipinos in the US and Canada,” said Ace Vincent Villa-Real, general manager of Splash’s International Operations Division.

“By expanding our product portfolio and distribution networks in North America, more and more of our kababayans are having a little taste of home,” Villa-Real said.

In August 2011, Splash bought 5.28 million shares or an 80-percent stake in Barrio Fiesta Manufacturing for P472 million. Bonifacio E. Ongpauco Jr. and his children sold their shares in the Filipino condiments and canned goods maker Barrio Fiesta Manufacturing.

It jumpstarted the product and brand diversification of personal care manufacturer Splash.

Splash said it made use of its marketing and distribution networks both in the Philippines and abroad.

Aside from strong growth in North America, Splash expects food sales increasing in the Middle East where Barrio Fiesta is already attracting more in-country distributors.

While Barrio Fiesta sales are growing well in countries with big Filipino communities, Splash said it also aims to cater to the mainstream international markets.

“Expanding in the international market is a major strategy of Splash to diversify its sources of revenue and increase sales,” the company said.

In the first quarter, the listed personal care manufacturer’s net income hit P12.8 million, 18.8 percent higher from the same period last year given higher contribution of its new food and direct selling businesses.

For instance, Splash Foods recorded a 275-percent surge in sales while the direct selling business that was organized only three years ago to develop a more direct route to consumers, grew its sales by 36 percent.

Splash, which is consistently in the top 300 Philippine corporations since 1998, carries the brands Extraderm, Maxi-Peel, Skin White and Bioskin, one of the fastest-growing skin care brands in the country.

In March, its sales, marketing and logistics arm Prime Global Corp. signed contracts to provide nationwide logistics services for food products Master Chef Sea Salt of Arvin International Inc. and Royal Brands f ish sauce from Royal Brands of Thailand.