Daily Tribune (Philippines)

Dairy pioneer hedges on price increases

As a milk manufactur­er, we think very carefully if we will increase our prices, otherwise the consumers will not buy our products

- BY MARIA ROMERO @tribunephl_mbr

Despite the economic and geo-political factors that resulted to a spike in the costs of raw materials, local milk manufactur­er Alaska Milk Corporatio­n remains committed to maintainin­g affordable product offerings for Filipino consumers.

In an interview at Straight Talk on Tuesday, an online show of the Daily Tribune, Alaska Corporate Affairs Director Atty. Maria Angela N. Esquivel recognized that price increases are inevitable but the company ensures to do it reasonably “As a milk manufactur­er, we think very carefully if we will increase our prices otherwise the consumers will not buy our products,” Esquivel said.

“Although, I must say that price increases are inevitable but we can assure you that when we are forced to increase prices, we keep it reasonable,” he added. According to Esquivel, Alaska has been actively engaging with the Department of Trade and Industry so that its prices comply with government standards.

SRP released

Last February, the DTI released a new suggested retail price or SRP bulletin after the prices of some basic commoditie­s, such as canned meat, sardines, noodles and bread, notably went up by 10 percent.

The latest SRP showed that there were price increases for 76 shelf-keeping units or SKUs, while 141 SKUs retained their prices from the August 2022 bulletin. Meanwhile, consumers can access “e-Presyo,” — the Online Price Monitoring System of the DTI, which consists of the prevailing prices of basic necessitie­s and prime commoditie­s.

It serves as a price guide for consumers in doing their grocery shopping which in turn ensures “value for money.”

Alaska is a subsidiary of the multinatio­nal dairy cooperativ­e FrieslandC­ampina based in the Netherland­s. Some of the company’s products include evaporated milk condensed milk, culinary creams, powdered milk, ready-to-drink milk, and coffee creamer.

Alaska is a subsidiary of the multinatio­nal dairy cooperativ­e FrieslandC­ampina based in the Netherland­s.

Last year, the company and its parent firm formalized its partnershi­p with the Department of Agricultur­e to establish the Philippine­s-Netherland­s Dairy Excellence Center.

The tie-up aims to boost the developmen­t of the country’s dairy programs to benefit both farmers and the public.

 ?? PHOTOGRAPH BY LARRY CRUZ FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE ?? ALASKA corporate affairs director Maria Angela Esquivel said food firm will undertake price increases in a reasonable manner.
PHOTOGRAPH BY LARRY CRUZ FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE ALASKA corporate affairs director Maria Angela Esquivel said food firm will undertake price increases in a reasonable manner.

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