Duty Free adds more Pinoy products in stores

MANILA, Philippines — Duty Free Philippines Corp. (DFPC) will feature more export-quality local products in its stores this year in line with the push of the Department of Tourism (DOT) to support Filipino businesses and artisans.

DFPC chief operating officer Vicente Angala said the upcoming brands include fashion, furniture and home merchandise.

“We’re very thrilled with our additions this year. We believe that DFPC is an effective vehicle to promote Filipino creativity because our products are sold to departing passengers for their consumption abroad,” Angala said.

The company said it will add about 27 local brands at the Philippines’ Finest kiosk of the newly opened Luxe Duty Free at the Mall of Asia Complex and about 11 brands at the DFPC Fiestamall in Parañaque City.

At present, there are 39 existing Filipino brands available at the DFPC stores.

Among the latest additions are Malagos Agri-Venture, Theo and Philo Chocolate Factory, Filipinas Oro de Cacao, Ralph and Matthew’s Chocolate Enterprise, Gourmet Farms, Armson Foods, Freefood Coconut Manufacturing and the Manila Cookie Story.

“Locally made products in our stores have steadily grown to this day and we expect for it to continue to grow in the coming years,” Angala said.

The company said all local products sold in all DFPC stores went through product testing to ensure adherence to global quality standards.

Suppliers also need to secure import commodity clearance, Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Trade and Industry registrations, and other government business requirements.

For this year, DFPC is targeting to hit $220 million worth of sales.

The company fell short of its $225 million sales target in 2018 as it registered $217 million in sales.

The figure, however, was two percent higher than DFPC’s total sales in 2017 of $213 million.

Based on data from DFPC’s merchandising division, Filipino tourists, balikbayans and OFWs remain the company’s top source market with $59.9 million of total transactions, followed by Americans ($4.9 million), Chinese ($1.5) million and Canadians ($1.1 million).

Angala said he remains optimistic of hitting its $220 million sales target as it boosts its expansion initiatives this year.

“We are set to open DFPC stores in Palawan and at the New Bohol-Panglao International Airport this year. DFPC has also allotted a budget of P27.2 million for the renovation of Duty Free Fiestamall,” he said.