At the Supermarket Break-Out Session of NRCE 2018 on Day 1, PAGASA was the organizer for the Session with A.C. Nielsen’s Dir. Patrick Cua packing the crowds in. The other speakers were James Cruz for systems and Mr. Chi Lam of Bingo Box, Beijing for operations of the unmanned supermarkets. STC hosted said affair on the afternoon of 9 Aug. 2018.

 

On 8 August 2018, the National Price Coordinating Council called for another Meeting to check on supply and prices of basic necessities and prime commodities. Year-to-date inflation up to July 2018 is 4.5%; a bit higher than targeted by the BSP due to a slight devaluation of the Peso, increased cost of raw materials by manufacturers, Inclement weather,  increase in electricity and water rates and increase in jeepney fares.

 

On 2 August 2018, World Food Expo held the first-ever run of the Philippine Sustainable Gastronomy (PSG) congress. Held at the SMX Convention Center, the congress was comprised of different panel discussions that focuses on the importance of food and dining choices as change agents when it comes to the issues of sustainability and climate change adaptation. The Show’s exhibits were displayed both at the SMX and the World Trade Center simultaneously from 1-4 Aug. 2018.

 

On 22-23 July 2018, PAGASA President Steven T. Cua was invited to attend the Stamegna Network: Asian Health and Beauty Care (edition) handled by Stamegna Retail Management in HongKong. For the second day, Mr. Cua met with (in order) Sanotact GmbH (Germany). Klapp Cosmetics (Germany), SB Beauty & Care AG (Switzerland), Regis Sp. zo.o. (Poland), D.D.D. Ltd. (UK), IntelliGender Int’l. (Aus.), Heathcote & Ivory Ltd. (UK), Profusion Cosmetics (UK), KNH Ent. Co., Ltd. (Taiwan), Azafran Innovacion (India), Delon Lab. (Canada), Beauty Concepts Int’l. Pty Ltd (Aus.), Look Beauty Inc. (Canada), Jola Int’l. Co., Ltd. (Taiwan), Ga. Ma Srl Unipersonale (Italy) and Belizo Sp. zo.o. (Poland). These firms are all looking for distributors for Asia.

 

Some more Meet-ups for Stamegna Network 2018 HK.   

 

 

On 19 July 2018, PAGASA’s STC was invited to a Special Mtg at DAP Office on d Status of Competition in Phil. Supermarkets with DTI Undersecretary Ruth Castelo and the other staff members of the Development Academy of the Philippines.

 

The Phili. Consumer-Centric Traders Association (PCCTA) held a forum on 6 July 2018 at the Sulo Hotel to clear things up regarding the new QC Ordinance prohibiting the sale of sugared-beverage and salted-foods to elementary and high school students within 100 meters from the gates of any public or private school.  Needless to say, the same goes for the sale of cigarettes near schools and places where the youth congregate. There were a lot of technical questions asked and addressed during this forum.  However, there were also a lot of gray areas left unclear.  The QC City Hall was represented by a lady-lawyer who is on top of this Ordinance.  She says adults/parents may buy snack foods for school-age children in stores within 100 meters from schools but retailers were not allowed to sell these items (including sugared-beverage) to the same set of children.  Rationale is that this is a health bill trying to encourage children to eat food which provide the proper nutrition.  Children may bring in snackfoods/beverages in their lunch boxes if parents/guardians prepared these for their meals/snacks but are discouraged from buying the same in stores nearby.  Attending for PAGASA was its President, Steven T. Cua and JC Plaza’s mother-daughter team of Susan and Charlene Lim.

 

“Philippine Food and Agribusiness: Performance and Forecasts” is a  Mid-Year Food and Agri Business Conference held at the PLDT Hall of UA&P’s APEC Bldg. on 5 July 2018.  PAGASA has been invited a number of times to share food retail’s developments and contribution to the economy at this regular Conference. Speakers were Phil. Confederation of Grains Assn. Pres. Herculano Co, Harbest Agribusiness Corp.’s Pres. Arsenio Barcelona, Edwin Chen/ Pres.-Pork Producers Fed. of the Phils., Wilfredo Yap/Exec. Dir. of Santeh Aquaculture S&T Foundation, Inc., PAGASA’s STC for Food Retail Industry and finally, UA&P’s Exec. Dir. of the Center for Food and Agri Business Dr. Rolando Dy who stayed on for the Open Forum with Mr. Cua.