NutriAsia to bring condiments business overseas

MANILA, Philippines - NutriAsia Group of Companies wants to create a bigger condiments business following a joint venture agreement with another Filipino-owned condiments giant, Silver Swan Manufacturing Co.

The aim is to bring Silver Swan brands outside the Philippines, particularly to the US, said Joselito Campos Jr., company chairman and chief executive officer.

“We want to help them introduce their products in the United States,” Campos told The STAR.

“It’s a joint venture and it (involves) the whole (product) line of Silver Swan,” he added.

Last year, NutriAsia and Sliver Swan sealed a joint venture agreement to create a much bigger condiments business in the Philippines.

NutriAsia is known for its UFC, Papa, Jufran and Mafran banana catsup brands as well as the popular Mang Tomas lechon sauce. It also has the Datu Puti vinegar and the Datu Puti soy sauce.

Asked if a public listing would be possible in the future for Silver Swan, Campos said it is a possibility, but the goal is to further grow the company first.

On the other hand, Silver Swan is the company behind the famous Silver Swan Soy Sauce and Vinegar. It was founded by the late Sy Bun Suan, who set up a small-scale family-owned venture that sold soy sauce in Manila’s Chinatown.

At present, Silver Swan’s line of products includes sweet and spicy chili sauces, oyster sauce, salted black beans and catsup.

NutriAsia, together with Bluebell Group Holdings, also owns 67 percent of Del Monte Pacific Limited.

Both companies are also beneficially owned by the Campos family.