In honor of its 55th anniversary: Rebisco awards 55 sari-sari store owners with store makeover and products

Homegrown snack giant Rebisco is spreading the anniversary joy to its grassroots business partners.

As part of its 55th year celebration, Rebisco awarded 55 lucky sari-sari store owners with store makeover and products for each. The winners were selected among hundreds of small business proprietors who shared their stories detailing how the snack food giant has made an impact on their lives and businesses.

According to Rebisco President Jonathan C. Ng, the project was borne out of a simple yet poignant motivation: to express gratitude. “Sari-sari stores are crucial to our business model,” he said. “These entrepreneurs are our loyal and hardworking community partners who help nourish Rebisco’s continued growth and success. This project is one of many ways we want to give back, by empowering them and their businesses.”

Shining the spotlight

Of the 55 winners, three were featured in an online video recently released by Rebisco.

Ester Recinto, a 66-year-old sari-sari store owner from Batangas, runs a strategically located store near an elementary school. She started selling in 1974, with a P300 capital. Over the years, she was able to grow her business from a cabinet display of Rebisco products to an actual store.

Twenty-two-year-old Naname Dahoya from Cebu started a sari-sari store to help augment her parents’ meager income and support her six siblings. She calls Rebisco her “superhero” because the company’s popular snacks helped her small business grow, thus providing her and her family a more stable income.

The third featured winner is Sally Angulo from Zamboanga del Norte. At first, Sally only sold condiments and vegetables but eventually realized that there was a market for snacks. After researching her options, she decided to sell Rebisco products because of its high-quality products at more affordable prices.

“We hope that their stories inspire others to persevere amid adversities,” Rebisco Trade Marketing Head Michelle Ceniza said. “We are grateful to our partner sari-sari store owners for their loyalty and patronage these past five decades. It truly is an honor for Rebisco to be an instrument to the success of their business.”

Stronger partnership

After a momentous year-long anniversary celebration, Rebisco looks to the future with optimism.

“We look forward to sharing more successful years with our sari-sari store partners,” Ng added.

To watch the video, check out Rebisco Snackademy Facebook page.

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Rebisco is ready to take on the world

Legacy snack maker is bringing Filipino delights to a global market

Manila, Philippines – There’s nothing like food to make you feel at home.

For millions of Filipinos living or working all across the globe, a familiar flavor or a well-loved taste can instantly bring back fond memories and rekindle that warm, fuzzy feeling of comfort.

While most Filipino dishes can be recreated in any kitchen, some Pinoy staples require a bit more effort to find.

This is where Rebisco comes in.

The snack food giant has been doubling down on its international business, ‘invading’ key markets armed with delightful sweets and treats.

“Wherever there are Filipinos, we have a market for Rebisco products because our snacks represent a piece of home,” Rebisco President Jonathan C. Ng said. “At the same time, the shared love for food is a universal language that transcends boundaries, languages and cultures. While we bring our diverse portfolio of products to a wider market, we also want to put the Philippines on the global map as a maker of world-class snacks.”

Spreading the love for Filipino-made snacks

Rebisco has been in the export business since early 2000, with key markets including China, U.A.E., Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea and Myanmar. Among their top export brands are local favorites like Ding Dong, Hansel, Fudgee Barr, Rebisco Sandwich, Doowee Donut, Cupp Keyk and Choco Mucho.

According to Rebisco International Business Group Head Jonnel Mangubat, main consumers vary per export market. “For countries such as UAE, Saudi Arabia, Canada, USA, and Taiwan the main consumers are our overseas Filipinos as these countries are top OFW and Filipino migrant destinations,” he said. “As for China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Myanmar, we primarily cater to the mainstream aka local consumers. Thus, our products could be found in their supermarkets and wholesalers where local consumers go to.”

Winning over local snack lovers

Marketing strategy varies, depending on the market. “We localize our portfolio and promotions based on the unique consumer needs per country,” Mangubat explained. “While some distributors directly approach us due to our company’s popularity, we mainly enter new markets through participation in international trade missions and food exhibits. As soon as we see market potential and product acceptance, as indicated primarily by consistent orders, we follow through with significant investment in sales and marketing initiatives in order to maximize the business potential.”

Manufacturing is a key success factor for Rebisco’s international business. In 2015, the legacy snack maker opened its Vietnam manufacturing facility, complete with a sales and marketing force. Mangubat added, “Vietnam’s strategic location in the region makes it an ideal manufacturing hub for businesses that want to penetrate the ASEAN markets. Its free trade agreements also make the country more attractive to investors because of the fewer tariffs and restrictions.”

The Vietnam plant produces cakes, biscuits, wafer and cream paste, for domestic and top export markets like China and Myanmar. Rebisco Vietnam has also recently begun export shipments to Hong Kong and Singapore. Mangubat noted that the total operations in Vietnam have steadily doubled its sales in the past five years, with the top-selling brands including Doowee, Krim Stix and Rebisco Extreme.

More reasons to celebrate

As Rebisco celebrates its 55th anniversary this year, the homegrown manufacturer of snack time favorites sees a bright future ahead for its international business.

Ng noted, “We’re optimistic about the sustained growth of our international operations. We continue to evolve with the changing needs of the market—both locally and globally. Good food never goes out of style. Regardless of where you’re from, there’s always a good reason to sit down and enjoy a snack.”

Rebisco celebrates Filipino artistry and food with the Special Edition Designer Can series

One of the most iconic fixtures in a Filipino home is the Rebisco Assorted Biscuits Tin Can — that multi-colored can of snacks that generations have always loved. Through the years, Rebisco products have become a part of Filipino tradition — a pasalubong lovingly carried to waiting family members in many homecomings; a favorite merienda fare; a much-loved snack passed around during family gatherings, big and small. A silent witness to the evolution of Filipino lifestyles, Rebisco Assorted Biscuits continues to be a Pinoy favorite, standing the test of time.

As Rebisco celebrates its 55th year anniversary, the brand collaborated with 4 local artists to create artworks specifical for the launch of the new Special Edition Designer Cans. L-R: Noric Ng, Rebisco Vice-President of Operations; Lady Luzano-Cruz, Category Manager; Roel Obemio, Artist; Migs Villanueva, Artist; Heart Evangelista, Host and Rebisco Ambassador; Lulu dela Peña, Marketing Communications Head; Chico Garcia, Host; Aris Bagtas, Artist; Joseph Bañez, Artist; Katherine Simundo, Rebisco Vice-President of Marketing

A fresh take on a Filipino classic

As it marks its 55th anniversary, Rebisco takes its humble tin can to the next level by partnering with renowned Filipino contemporary artists to create the Rebisco Special Edition Designer Cans. These works of art aim to showcase the rich history and evolution of the brand, while using the can itself as a vehicle of expression.

The growth of Rebisco parallels that of the Filipino culture. Over the past 55 years, Rebisco has grown into a formidable brand, thanks to the Filipino’s undying love and support, allowing it to grow into what it is today. As a fledgling company, Rebisco started with very simple offerings of biscuits and crackers packed into a can with images of the biscuits. Over time, the packaging evolved, soon showcasing family-themed art works as well.

By realizing that their snacks are deeply ingrained into the Filipino way of life, Rebisco celebrates its anniversary by launching their newest special edition designer tin can, which serves as a canvas on which the Filipino story is printed. These miniature versions are designed to show how Rebisco is intertwined with the Filipino story, as captured in food practices and traditions illustrated by four highly acclaimed artists. In doing so, the well-loved tin can evolves into a canvas that fulfills the brand’s vision to recognize the work and talent of Filipino artists.

Visualizing the rich local flavor

Beautifully using the tin can as the canvas through which they can capture local color are four of the country’s talented contemporary artists - Migs Villanueva, Aris Bagtas, Roel Obemio, and Joseph Banez. By collaborating with Rebisco, they aim to shine the light on Filipino artistry and culture in a tradition that Rebisco has created.

Migs Villanueva, a Palanca-awardee visual artist, uses bold pastel colors and wanderlust compositions to invite Filipinos to see their own childhood experiences in her works.  Aris Bagtas shows the Filipinos’ identity through his folk, religious and abstract works, inspiring people to create a country where family values, traits and traditions are not forgotten. Roel Obemio, a member of the famed Saturday Group,  uses storybook characters and Filipino family-oriented imagery that convey whimsy and fantasy. Joseph “Otep” Bañez, who made his own brand of Filipino Pop-Social Realism that took the market by storm, creates detailed renditions combined with playful colors and hilarious settings.

Alongside these artists, celebrity and visual artist Heart Evangelista-Escudero plus radio DJ Chico Garcia celebrated the launch as official event hosts for this prestigious event.

This project’s new masterpieces are featured on the tin can’s outer packaging. There are four sets of special edition designer cans, and inside are assorted premium biscuits, crackers, cookies and wafers – all-time favorites that people love to snack on and share. Retailing for php175.00 SRP, these are now available at leading supermarkets nationwide, namely Robinsons, Puregold, Waltermart, Rustans, and Shopwise. Starting November 15, 2018, you can also buy online via www.honestbee.ph.

The green can showcases the paintings made by Aris Bagtas

The yellow can showcases the paintings made by Joseph Bañez

The red can showcases the paintings made by Roel Obemio

The blue can showcases the paintings made by Migs Villanueva

“Every Pinoy family has a story to tell and through the years, we make these stories come to life through our products. Rebisco’s Special Edition Designer Cans support local not only through taste, but through art. We at Rebisco believe that life is a constant journey of growing and refining who we are. Thus, we find a new twist to an old product to rekindle interest for it while continuing our tradition to let the tin can serve as an art canvas that tells the stories and values of Filipino families,” said Ms. Lulu dela Peña, the Marketing Communications Head of Rebisco.

Indeed, Rebisco’s Special Edition Designer Can will once again be part of the Filipino heritage. What are you waiting for? Express your support for local by gifting your family and friends with Rebisco’s special edition designer cans, and share with them a taste of our rich Filipino culture.

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