Gandang Kalikasan taps high-end retail chains in PHL

CEBU, Philippines - Social enterprise Gandang Kalikasan Inc. (GKI), the maker of organic and natural body care and wellness products, is now trying to reach out to a broader market base via tapping the high-end retail chains around the country.

GKI, the company behind the Human Nature (HN) products, has started to make deals with Rustan's, ShopWise and Beauty Bar chains, to make some items be made available in their shelves.

In Metro Manila, some Human Nature products are already available in Rustan's (Rockwell) and Forbs to introduce the farmer-friendly and quality organic body care, cosmetics and wellnesss products to the affluent market.

Although, the company is sticking to its thrust in making their lines available through direct-selling to help the mothers, or mainstream market earn extra income, the company’s head of marketing Joanna C. Gilladoga said it is also important to introduce HN products to the affluent market, as they are one of the largest consumers of health-friendly products now a days.

In Cebu, the company has started negotiating with the Metro Gaisano chain of stores, while selected products may also be available in the beauty and wellness sector of Rustan's department store here.

Aside from outlets established in Cebu, such as the “We Love Organics” store located at Orchard Hotel in A.S. Fortuna on Mandaue City, Gilladoga said it is also good to introduce some HN products to the higher-end retail chains.

The two-year company started by young British millionaire Dylan Wilk and Filipina wife Anna Meloto-Wilk is now reaching out to all market segments, in order to promote all-Filipino made products, at the same time helping a growing number of farmers around the country.

“Tapping into the broad spectrum of retail sector can help build the awareness of the availability of Filipino-made organic products,” said Gilladoga in a press conference held recently in Cebu.

At present, about 30 percent of the company’s work-force is beneficiaries of Gawad Kalinga (GK), while it also supports four large farming communities around the country.

This year, GKI is targeting to work closely with six more farming communities to support the company’s growing need for plant-based raw materials.

With a total number of 17,000 dealers in 19 HN branches nationwide, Gilladoga said that the company targets to grow at least 1,000 dealers a month, to help promote use of environment-friendly, no-chemical wellness products for all market segments, including babies and men.

Currently working with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for research and development (R&D) to broaden product lines and continuously improve its existing products, the company is also working closely with the Central Luzon State University for the development of Sunflower farming industry in the Philippines.

Because the company is a hard-core social enterprise, Gilladoga said prices of quality organic products are pegged within the affordability level of every Filipino, after-all the company is built within the thrust of “breaking the cycle” of poverty in the country.

Wilk, who is only 30 years old and currently the 8th richest man in United Kingdom, gave up his wealth in U.K. to help the marginalized community in the Philippines, to support the globally recognized “Gawad Kalinga” movement.

Together with his Filipina wife, Anna, the Wilk couple established the GKI to maximize the rich natural resources in the Philippines, as well as help the poor communities earn good income.

“In one of our travels in the US, my wife and I realized that American consumers are crazy about organic products, which we found out that all ingredients are richly found in the Philippines,” Wilk said.

Today, there a total of 120 product lines offered by HN, and is constantly introducing more organic-based products, such as cosmetics line, men care, and necessary and basic products for babies, like diaper-rash care, baby lotion among others.

GKI is largely using flowers, plants, vegetables, and fruits richly grown in the Philippines, which have good natural ingredients to nourish, beautify human body. These are the Moringa (Malungay), Lemongrass (Tanglad), Sunflower, Citronilla, Tomato, Aloe Vera, Virgin Coconut Oil, Honey, Guava, Carrageenan, Gugo bark, cucumber, mango, calamansi, Avocado, peppermint, sugarcane, melon, banana, among others. (FREEMAN)