METRO PACIFIC Agro Ventures, Inc. (MPAV) said it is looking to expand into various segments of the protein business like meat, eggs, and aquaculture.
“Part of our core strategy is to look at the Filipino plate… meat, eggs, or aquaculture — All of those are very interesting,” MPAV President and Chief Executive Officer Jovy I. Hernandez said during a briefing in Pasig City last week.
“We continuously want to look at areas where we can implement technology that will increase yield,” he added.
MPAV is the agriculture unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).
Mr. Hernandez said any meat expansion will involve managing the risk posed by animal diseases.
“We’re kind of cautious with meat because of the African Swine Fever (ASF) in terms of pork, and with bird flu for chicken,” he said.
He described the egg business as “a very interesting area that we will take a look at.”
MPAV has business interests in vegetable production, coconut processing and export, integrated dairy processing, and ice cream through the Carmen’s Best brand.
Mr. Hernandez said MPAV’s dairy business is expected to be self-sufficient in milk by 2026 following its recent investments.
MPAV recently acquired 100% ownership of Universal Harvester Dairy Farms, Inc. (UHDFI) for over P700 million to support the growth of its dairy business.
UHDFI operates the Bukidnon Milk Co. brand, and is active in the Visayas and Mindanao markets.
MPAV is also expecting Metro Pacific Dairy Farms in Laguna to be operational by the first quarter of 2025.
In 2022, MPIC acquired a controlling stake in The Laguna Creamery, Inc., which owns the brands Carmen’s Best ice cream and Holly’s Milk.
MPIC is one of three key Philippine units of First Pacific, the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority share in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
