Canned Bicol express and laing sell like hotcake in Europe.

(From Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Byline: Gil Francis G. Arevalo

LEGAZPI CITY-From the time Moonbake Inc. owner Ana Manrique was tapped by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to join the Anuga Food Show in Cologne, Germany, last October 2003, she never expected that her canned Bicol specialty products (such as the Bicol Express and laing) would gain wide recognition in the prestigious food show as well as brisk sales in other European countries.

It was far from her expectation, too, that even the locally canned dessert products like the ginataan mais with tapioca pearls, which they introduced in the country in June 2002, would also click in Germany as it enjoyed extensive exposure compared to other Asian and European products being exhibited.

It has been just nearly a year since Moonbake products were exported to countries like the US, Middle East, UK, Japan, Taiwan, Canada and Australia. And it has been exactly three years after the company introduced the canned Bicol specialties in the country.

"Actually, that was the first time that we joined an international food show and that was the first exposure of these Bicol specialties in this European trade event. We were so surprised too that no similar canned vegetable products were presented in the show, even from other Asian countries like Thailand, China, and Malaysia," claims Manrique, a native of Malinao, Albay.

Proudly Bicol