URC explores new spaces via innovation

MANILA, Philippines — Gokongwei-led Universal Robina Corp. is exploring new spaces through innovation to strengthen its growth engine.

“We’re building new legs and entering new spaces with innovation as our growth engine,” URC president and CEO Irwin Lee said.

Without identifying which areas, Lee said the company would continue to work diligently to become the leading food and beverage sustainable enterprise from the Philippines.

“URC enters this new chapter with gratitude, knowledge and a newfound vigor to sprint toward our vision for a sustainable future,” Lee said with the COVID-19 pandemic now receding in the background.

The company has been named the Philippines’ most outstanding company in the consumer staples sector, receiving the recognition for a second year in a row.

Asiamoney has, for a second year in a row, handed the award to URC after an exhaustive survey of the region’s top capital movers and financial experts.

The latest survey of one of Asia’s leading financial publications covered over 1,000 fund managers, analysts, bankers and ratings agencies. In total, 5,787 votes were received for publicly listed companies across 13 markets in Asia.

The results recognized 191 companies as being the most outstanding in their respective sectors and markets, Asiamoney said.

“This award affirms the high, consistent quality of our products and services, the trust and faith of our customers and the grit and resilience of our workforce,” Lee said.

Asiamoney’s poll was designed to acknowledge listed firms that have excelled in areas such as financial performance, management team excellence, investor relations and corporate social responsibility.

Lee said the company is humbled by the recognition from various fund managers, analysts, bankers and rating agencies.

“We would also like to acknowledge the efforts of all our stakeholders – employees, suppliers, customers, and consumers – who have helped us persevere through the last two years of the pandemic,” Lee added.