IFEX Philippines: Save Your Heart with Pilinuts

Manila, Philippines, June 09, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The healthy goodness of nuts can be traced way back to ancient history when only the royals were given the privilege to eat the luscious morsel because they have known that nuts are good for the heart.

Over the past years, various researches have shown that nuts are indeed nutritious and one of the best plant sources of protein and other vitamins.

In the Philippines, exporters have began capitalizing on the nutrient advantage of nuts by creating a myriad of healthy versions of the local Pilinut.

Pilinut is a popular native variety of nuts in the Philippines that is abundant in the Bicol region. People love it as a dessert, an appetizer, as a pasalubong, or just a snack to while away time because of its zesty flavor and delightful crunch.

Recognizing the healthy benefits of pilinuts and realizing its huge market potential, companies from the Bicol region such as J. Emmanuel Pastries, Sweetven Enterprise, and C.O.P. Pili Sweets and Pastries start venturing into healthy pilinut-based products business. These companies are introducing their pilinuts-made items at the forthcoming 7th International Food Exhibition on 6-8 May at the World Trade Center.

Philippine company J. Emmanuel Pastries started producing pili nut-based products as a gift or pasalubong. Their products have captured the discerning taste of the public and they have catered to markets such as Japan. After realizing the huge market potentials of pilinuts, Lydia Lomibao, owner of J. Emmanuel Pastries, quit her job and focused in producing and developing pilinut-based products.

“We soon found out that aside from its luscious and distinct taste, pilinuts have more to offer. Through our continuous product research and development we found out that pilinuts are very good for the heart so we started producing healthier pilinut snacks,” said Lydia Lomibao, owner of J. Emmanuel Pastries.

The company’s efforts were rewarded as the regional Department of Health (DOH) recognized them as the “Most Outstanding Healthy Lifestyle Advocate”.

Meanwhile, another company based in Bicol, Sweetven Enterprise also ventured into the pilinut business as the demand for sweets but healthy snacks continue to rise. “We were inspired by the belief that everybody loves sweets but because of the demand for healthy food and abundance of pilinuts in our place we came up with different versions of pilinut products that also promote healthy eating. We strongly promote our pilinut products as source of protein and other vitamins that are good for the heart,” said Rachelle Abordo, Owner and Manager of Sweetven Enterprise.

According to Abordo, their best seller is the Dark Chocolate with Pilinuts because of its indulging taste without the guilt. “Our products are made from high quality plinuts that are good sources of calcium and other vitamins and dark chocolates proven to be good for the heart,” added Abordo.

On the other hand, C.O.P. Pili Sweets and Pastries owners couple Erwin and Cindy Pereña grabbed the opportunity of the increasing demand for healthy, delicious snacks and pasalubong hence, they started manufacturing the “Wrapsody” or formerly known as “Chewy Pili Caramel”, a pilinut-filled pastry. They also started incorporating other healthy ingredients such as chili and garlic in creating pilinuts-based products. To date, C.O.P. now offers Hopia de Pili, Pili Puffs, Mini Mazapan, Chili Garlic Pili, Nutty Bar and Sugar Coated Pili.

“Our products are new and unique compared to other pilinuts-based products, but because people know the healthy benefits they can get from nuts, particularly pilinuts, we have expanded our business to also penetrate the international market,” said Cindy Pereña, owner of the C.O.P. Pili Sweets and Pastries.

Nowadays, all kinds, shapes, and brands of nuts line the grocery shelves- imported and local ones. Nuts have become popular because they are very versatile and present numerous health benefits.

Highlighting the health benefits of the pilinuts-based products, these companies will introduce their pilinuts snacks in the international market through their participation in the Best of Partner Region Program (BPRP), a component of the International Food Exhibition (IFEX), the Philippines must-attend food event.

The BPRP, with its bid to provide a higher level of enhancing the quality, product acceptability, and marketability of select food and beverage products of previous partner regions participants, is led by the Department of Trade and Industry through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM).

This year, join this gastronomic journey of Philippine food from the regions as the 7th edition of IFEX Philippines feature the best products from five regions. Local gastronomic finds from Regions IV-A (Calabarzon), V (Bicol), VII (Central Visayas), X (Northern Mindanao), and XIII (Caraga).

For more information on IFEX Philippines, visit www.ifexphilippines.com.

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