Gardenia opens P1 billion plant in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — Bread manufacturer Gardenia Bakeries Philippines Inc. has expanded operations in Mindanao with the opening of a P1 billion production facility.

In a statement, Gardenia said the new plant, which occupies a 2.5-hectare area within the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental and adjacent to Cagayan de Oro, has a capacity of producing 130,000 loaves and buns per day.

Among the products to be produced at the new facility are white bread, health bread selections, flavored loaf offerings and buns or pandesal.

Gardenia’s affordable loaf brand, Neubake, would also be produced at the new facility.

“We are now bringing Gardenia breads closer to our consumers with the opening of our newest plant. With our current distribution capabilities, Gardenia is available in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Surigao and Zamboanga del Norte, Butuan and Kidapawan, but we will intensify our market penetration and saturation to widen our network, and eventually, reach every corner of Mindanao,” Gardenia Philippines president and general manager Simplicio Umali Jr. said.

He said the new facility would not just cater to demand in Mindanao, but provide support to operations in the Visayas as well.

“We can also dispatch breads easily to other areas when the need arrives, especially in the event of major calamities or natural disasters in those areas,” he said.

The new facility is in a strategic location as it is close to the Cagayan de Oro port, ensuring the availability and accessibility of ingredients.

“To ensure the high quality, freshness and great taste of Gardenia products, we use flour made from US wheat, milled to Gardenia’s high-quality specifications, milk from Australia or USA, and other imported premium ingredients,” Umali said.

Apart from being in a strategic location, Gardenia’s new plant is also the most advanced bread manufacturing plant in Mindanao.

“This completely new breadline features robotics and the latest innovations in modern baking. All major equipment are sourced from the best and reliable bakery equipment suppliers in Germany, the Netherlands, US, Malaysia and Japan,” Umali said.

He said the integration of the machineries and equipment into one unit enables the company to develop a proprietary manufacturing process unique to Gardenia Philippines.

Apart from the new plant in Mindanao, Gardenia Philippines has facilities in Laguna and Cebu.