June 2024

A Father’s Day celebration series on flavorful umami meals with Ajinomoto  

This Father’s Day is an excellent opportunity to hear true stories from fathers who have their own fan following at home when it comes to cooking, which is none other than their own family! Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) celebrates Father’s Day by providing dads, papas, and tatays with voices and a platform to share their methods, with the goal of empowering other fathers by allowing them to create and discover new ways to bring their families closer together through food and meals spent well together over good conversations at home.

How mornings could be less of a chore, and more for family quality time  

Households with children who go to grade school would understand and relate to those mornings when everybody seems to be rushing. The parents are getting ready for work and some last-minute preparations before they leave. Sometimes, the morning rush can take away precious time from the family, including cooking time, but with AJI-GINISA® Less Sodium Flavor Seasoning Mix, “Mr. Gino’s” Salmon Onigiri, is what the family looks forward to doing altogether. His wife’s task was to make sure all the ingredients were ready and laid on the counter in order, while the children set the table, and Mr. Gino made sure he had the AJI-GINISA® Less Sodium Flavor Seasoning Mix, ready to mix in the morning dish. From the usual manic mornings, breakfast and preparing for it has never been easier, now a bonding experience for the whole family.  

Everyone in their own living spaces at home, but the first sign of lunch calls   

Ever since the discovery of the work-from-home setup, everyone at home  would rather stay inside their rooms, where their home office setup is. With lunch being in between the day, most of us would opt for lunch at our desks, another reason why family time is lessened even when everyone’s at home. Not in Mr. Chris’s home. Preparing lunch is what everyone looks forward to in his hold. The family favorite would be his fried chicken, and everyone at home would know that they only use Crispy Fry® Breading Mix. It’s the smell of fresh oil in a hot pan, waiting to marry chicken cuts coated with Crispy Fry® Breading Mix, and how every bite would just be as good as the laughs and smiles exchanged during lunch. Mr. Chris’s  son told him how excited he is to create his own twist on his dad’s fried chicken recipe, but for now, it will be the classic Crispy Fry® Fried Chicken that would  be the house’s champion.

Family time after hitting that new personal fitness goal  

Mr. Ronny enjoys an evening jog with his family around the neighborhood. It used to be him alone, but he found ways to encourage his family to join. One special way he thought would work was through food. After running, he goes straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner, and rice at Mr. Ronny’s was extraordinary. His Special Fried Rice, a hearty dish that has white rice, onion, garlic, longanisa, sweet ham, eggs, green peas, and the AJIGINISA® Flavor Seasoning Mix, is his secret to this all-in-one dish.  

The star of family meals, dad’s secret ingredient to hearty meals.

Every dinner prepared with affection is something to look forward to, and the dish is undoubtedly unforgettable. Each family has their own classic recipe that is passed down through generations. As we celebrate Father’s Day, we remember and appreciate not only their culinary skills, but also the time and effort they put in to bring joy to their families and bring them closer together. Fathers from many walks of life have shared their stories, but one thing they have in common is that they all have one reliable cooking friend who never fails them: their AJINOMOTO® goods and the twists they add to their cuisine. Why don’t you go to your kitchen? Your dad might be preparing a feast that you’ll never forget!

Check out these recipes and follow Cookmunity (www.cookmunitybyajinomoto.com) by Ajinomoto Philippines for updates, cooking tips, and ideas.

To learn more, visit www.ajinomoto.com. 

Based on its long-term goal of developing a resilient supply chain to ensure better service and quality products in the future, the Jollibee Group has gathered 600 key global and country suppliers to foster a more robust and effective partnership by aligning with them the company’s business priorities and innovations in the coming years.

With the topic “Accelerating Growth Through Partnership,” the recently finished event highlighted Jollibee Group’s critical actions in improving customer experience and maintaining the highest food safety and quality standards in collaboration with its suppliers. It also reaffirmed Jollibee Group’s commitment to sustainable business practices, as embodied in its ‘Joy for Tomorrow’ global sustainability agenda, as a company that collaborates with reputable suppliers who share its values of serving trusted food, improving people’s lives, and treating the planet responsibly.

“Our suppliers have been one of our greatest resources, playing a crucial role in helping us meet our operational and sustainable business goals. As partners in our growth, we aim to keep them informed of our directions and initiatives, and to communicate our commitments to quality, consistency, and excellence,” Jollibee Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ernesto Tanmantiong said.

Tanmantiong, followed by William Tan Untiong, Jollibee Group’s Chief Business Support Office, and other Jollibee Group executives each gave their business presentations, which aimed to empower the suppliers with new knowledge as they continue working with Jollibee Group to provide great tasting food that people can trust.  

Recognition of Quality and Reliability

Culminating the summit is Jollibee Group’s first-ever Supplier Awards Night, which honored its suppliers’ outstanding performances in reaching elevated supplier targets and metrics as well as  suppliers’ innovation, and sustainability efforts.

The top recognition known as the Champion Partner of Joy award was presented to Kerry Manufacturing (Philippines), Inc. for embodying the highest standards of quality, innovation, sustainability, and partnership, as well as a sustained high-level performance in the Procurement Value Matrix and supplier scorecards.

Arla Foods Corporation received the Special Award for Innovation for providing creative solutions, products, or processes that have notably enhanced their operations or customer experience. They also received the notable Special Award for Sustainability for demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental and social responsibility and contributing to a more sustainable future for communities and the planet. 

Meanwhile, Alaska Milk Corporation and Nueva Ecija-based farmer group KALASAG Multipurpose Cooperative, along with two other companies, received the Special Award for Quality for consistently delivering products or services that meet or exceed the company’s high quality standards. Finally, marketing services providers DDB Philippines and Widescope Advertising Agency received the Special Citation for Quality.

“The Supplier Awards Night is a celebration of excellence and shared commitments. It also highlights how powerful collaborations truly accelerate growth. We hope that these recognitions will boost the trust and motivation of our suppliers, as well as reinforce the strength of our partnerships as we expand the business with our common goal: To serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone,” Tan Untiong said.

To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com

Over 30 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSMEs) entrepreneurs benefited from a recent learning session hosted by the Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC) and its social development arm, the Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF), in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry. The first learning session, which complements Republic Act 9501, focuses on capacity building and knowledge exchange to help MSMEs improve their business and marketing abilities so they may scale their firms.

 DTI Undersecretary Ma. Cristina Roque attended the learning session named “Joy in Learning: MSME Meet and Learn,” which discussed the company’s Farmer Entrepreneurship Program under JGF as well as the company’s strategies in conducting Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) engagements.

“I began my entrepreneurial journey 30 years ago with a mere capital of P6,000, a prayer, and a dream.  Once in my lifetime, someone has opened the door for me, and I realized that I, too, should open the door for others. I hope that through these learning sessions, the MSMEs will have a different mindset and open their eyes to the possibilities. Remember, not so long ago, Jollibee was an MSME, too,” said Usec. Roque.

DTI recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the JFC and JGF to help MSMEs grow through capacity building and knowledge sharing. The partnership supports Republic Act 9501, also known as the Magna Carta for MSMEs, which aims to promote MSME growth by expanding entrepreneurship training programs, fostering linkages between large and small enterprises, and encouraging private sector engagements.

“We are truly grateful for the support of DTI in our goal of enriching the lives of MSMEs in the country. By sharing our expertise and experiences, we hope to inspire and empower these entrepreneurs to dream bigger and succeed in their businesses,” said JFC President and Chief Executive Officer Ernesto Tanmantiong.

FEP engagement

JGF’s President Gisela Tiongson opened the learning session by discussing how institutional markets like JFC established relationships with MSMEs and highlighting the Foundation’s experience in linking smallholder farmers as suppliers to the Company.

Launched in 2008, the Farmer Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) organizes and transforms small-scale farmers into agro-entrepreneurs. With the help of its partners and stakeholders from various sectors across the country, the Foundation has helped farmers sharpen their technical and business acumen and link them with institutional markets such as the JFC for increased and steady income.

“Through the shared knowledge and hard work of our teams, partners, and stakeholders, FEP farmers could innovate their practices, understand the importance of calculated risks, and aim for bigger goals for themselves and their businesses. Apart from capacitating them as agro-entrepreneurs, the opportunity empowers them to have a sustainable livelihood and uplift their lives and communities,” Tiongson said.

Stakeholder engagement

Aside from the farmers, the session also allowed the MSMEs to discover the different options and considerations for business development for B2B and B2C engagements.

JFC’s Assistant Vice President and Head of Global Procurement Services Bryan Tividad provided an overview of JFC’s Procurement Value Matrix, which expounds buyers’ decision points. The session also allowed the attendees to understand the key criteria of institutional markets before onboarding suppliers.

“While it may seem daunting, we wanted to give our MSMEs inspiration that it is doable and that there are B2B opportunities for them. We hope that through this session, they can learn the expectations and validations that companies like the JFC require from their suppliers. How they can prepare their businesses for effective and successful B2B transactions,” Tividad added.

Cited as an example is MJB Meat Processing Inc., one of the JFC’s longtime suppliers since 2008. One thing that Joanna Ignacio, the Procurement Head of MJB Meat Processing Inc., did not expect is that their once small family business, with the family members being the employees themselves, would eventually venture into supplying an institutional partner like the JFC.

Being part of their family business meant growing with the company and learning along the way. According to Ignacio, one thing that inspired them to really work hard is how their parents triumphed over all the challenges with a positive mindset.

“They always told us: ‘You should be ready to take on all the challenges coming your way.’ And I’m happy that we took that advice to heart because that led us to where our company is today,” she said.

MJB produces processed meat products such as bacon, ham, and longanisa. As a trusted supplier, MJB understands the Company’s customer values and performs against high standards, establishing its capability and credibility.

“JFC has guided and helped us overcome the initial hesitations and challenges of scaling our business. With constant and open communication regarding expectations and capacity, we learned how to be flexible and reliable enough to meet their requirements, particularly on food safety compliance–which also benefits our retail brand today,” Joanna Ignacio, Procurement Head of MJB Meat Processing Inc. said.

Meanwhile, Chowking President Kenneth Lingan tackled the ins and outs of Business-to-Consumer (B2C) while underscoring customer focus as its core value.

According to him, gaining the hearts of customers helps to strengthen the consumer’s engagement with the business. Lingan explained how they put customer focus into action in Chowking by identifying their target market, developing a unique selling proposition (USP), and implementing the Marketing Mix Strategy, which focuses on Product, Price, Place, and Promotion, or 4Ps.

JFC looks forward to further cooperation with DTI as it continues to play an active role in improving the lives of more Filipinos, particularly MSMEs.