From L-R: Mr. Luigi Takata (Representative, Verra Coffee), Mr. Yu Mizui (President, Cocowell), Commercial Counsellor Michael Alfred V. Ignacio (PTIC-Osaka), Consul General Voltaire D. Mauricio (Philippine Consul General to Osaka), Mr. Lowie Antonio (Representative, Verra Coffee)
Osaka, Japan (12 September 2022) – Consul General Voltaire D. Mauricio of the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka and Commercial Counsellor Michael Alfred V. Ignacio of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Osaka (PTIC-Osaka), joined the representatives of Philippine Brands and Philippine sourced products at the official opening of the FoodPhilippines booth at the Food Store Solutions Fair 2022 at Intex Osaka which ran from 7 to 8 September.
Organized by PTIC-Osaka, with the support of Osaka International Business Promotion Council, the FoodPhilippines booth featured an excellent curation of premium Food and Beverage products from the Philippines, namely from Verra Coffee, Cocowell, and Auro Chocolate. This is in line with DTI’s unified strategy to support niche premium products with the most potential for penetrating the highly-discriminating Japanese market, taking into account supply capacity, quality and export readiness.
The Food Store Solutions Fair 2022 was recently held in Osaka in parallel with FABEX Food Show at INTEX Osaka, the city’s principal trade fair grounds. The organizers reported that the number of visitors greatly exceeded the numbers from the previous year’s edition, with a total of 14,015 attendees composed mainly of buyers, retailers, importers, distributors and agents for Japan’s mainstream retailing players and stakeholders. Because the event was held in conjunction with FABEX Food Show at the same time, the attendees of FABEX were also able to visit the exhibitors of the Food Store Solutions Fair.
About Verra Coffee
Verra Coffee is a premium coffee brand that is intent in penetrating the niche Japanese market for specialty coffee, micro-roasting, and boutique cafes market.
“We partner with farmers and tribal roasters all over the Philippines, and bring their products to an international market. Our coffee is traceable, sourced directly from the farmers whom we personally know and work with. By purchasing Philippine products, you are helping provide livelihood to the coffee farmers, who are indigenous people groups in the Philippines,” Verra Coffee Founder, Vanessa Velasco said.
Verra Coffee started as a project under the Center for Community Transformation, a non-profit organization that helps the entrepreneurial poor across the country. To know more about Verra Coffee, visit their website at www.verracoffee.com and official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/VerraCoffee.
About Cocowell
Cocowell Co. Ltd. is a Japanese company founded in 2004 committed in offering premium coconut-based products from the Philippines and specializes in coconut products with the mission of helping climate poverty in the Philippines by bringing change sustainably one coconut at a time.
The company works with many coconut farming communities and farmers in the Philippines and imports coconut ingredients such as coconut oil and coconut sugar exclusively from country, as well as natural and organic cosmetics made from coconut oils. It is also committed to the environment, noting that the coconut tree naturally helps protect the rural environment, protects the lives of farmers and is good for the health.
Cocowell Founder and President Yu Mizui said, “Our mission is to pursue the infinite possibilities of products made from coconuts and to share the many benefits of coconut products to as many as possible. We will continue to contribute to the healthy eating habits everyone while helping ease poverty problems among coconut farming communities in the Philippines at the same time.”
Read more about Cocowell through their website at www.cocowell.co.jp and Facebook page at www.facebook.com/COCOWELL.JP.
About Auro Chocolate
Auro Chocolate is an internationally awarded tree-to-bar chocolate brand from the Philippines that promotes sustainability by working directly with local farmers to create fine Filipino cacao beans, ingredients, and retail products with unique and bold tropical flavors.
Managing Director, Mark M. Ocampo wants to strengthen Auro Chocolate’s distribution in other countries so that more people are able to enjoy and appreciate fine Philippine chocolate.
Visit Auro Chocolate’s website at www.aurochocolate.com and official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/aurochocolate.
About The Philippine Trade & Investment Center in Osaka
The Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Osaka is the trade and investment section of the Philippine Consulate General in Osaka City and the representative office of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry covering Western Japan. For inquiries, contact: osaka@dti.gov.ph ♦
Date of Release: 14 September 2022