DOST 7 SET-UP Product Catalogue - DOST 7! - Department of ...

Cebu Grace Food Products
The “Grace” Of Not Compromising
Your Product
“You have to be true to your customers and not just for the sake of earning that extra buck. ” This is the advice
of Gerard Lopez, Marketing Manager and son of the owner and General Manager, Catherine Uy Lopez.
He added, “Our mango has no artificial coloring, no
artificial flavor.” For the health-conscious consumer,
the dried mangoes of Cebu Grace Food Products
under the brand, “Sweet Earth”, is definitely a good
choice. Aside from dried mangoes, the company
produces mango nectar and squid flakes.
The decision to go into squid flakes production in the
late 90s, was a combination of factors - high cost of
raw materials, the Asian financial crisis and the need
to diversify to augment income. Mango will still be
the anchor product and Philippine mango will sell
because it is the best mango in the world.
Since assuming the responsibility six years ago, this
young Marketing Manager has focused on their family
business which was established in 1980. Thirty to
forty percent (30-40%) of their market is foreign. The
delicious squid flakes can easily be mistaken for a
foreign brand with its attractively-designed packaging,
which is an assistance provided by a government
agency, the DOST.
Gerard holds DOST in high esteem. He commented
that if government has the money, it should be
channeled through DOST and DTI, two government
agencies concretely assisting SMEs.
The company has availed of the services of productivity
consultants through MPEX, Manufacturing
and Productivity Extension Program under the Small
47
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY VII
Product Catalogue 2011
Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SET-UP)
of DOST. One of the recommendations of the consultants
was the acquisition of a new and more efficient
dryer and the upgrading of their existing dryer to
improve productivity.
Through SET-UP, a mechanical dryer for dried
mangoes was purchased. While the dryer still awaits
its full operation, it is envisioned that the drying time
for the dehydration of mangoes will be reduced from
the current 18 hours to about 14 hours. Increased
production of dried mango to about 5-6 times and
increased annual gross sales by about 20 percent
are also expected from this technology upgrade.
Cebu Grace’s achievements have been recognized
through the awards that it has received. In 2005, it
received the National Shopper’s Choice for Sweet
Earth (Dried Mangoes) and in 2006, the same award
was given for its squid flakes as well as the Philippine
Marketing Excellence Awards for Most Outstanding
Squid Flakes. The Business Achievement and
Recognition Awards for its “Golden Crunch” was
given in 2010.
Gerard’s vision is “to diversify and to come out
with new and innovative products in the market, to
create a niche product.” Despite the changes in the
business environment, Gerard believes that quality
should “never be compromised.”
Cebu Grace Food Products
38 J. Abad St., Villa Aurora Subdivision
Mabolo, Cebu City
Mrs. Catherine U. Lopez
Proprietor
Tel No: (63)(32) 232 2635
Telefax: (63)(32) 231 3950
Email: cebugracefoods@gmail.com