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The Philippine Business and News (talk) 23:28, 26 November 2017 (UTC) Mekeni Food Corporation

Mekeni Food Corporation (MFC) is one of the Philippines' leading food processing companies. Started by public school teachers, Felix M. Garcia and Medicia L. Santos, the backyard business was turned into a world class food manufacturing facility located at Balubad, Porac, Pampanga, which is the heart of Central Luzon.

It was the Garcia couple, known as Tatay Felix and Ima Meding who started their business in 1982, while their three children Adrian, Pruds and Lito were all gainfully employed abroad, while the two younger siblings Doods and Nards stayed in Porac to help their parents manage the business by selling their products, assisted in the production, delivery and all other facets of the operation.

Mekeni is the first meat processing company in the Philippines and in Asia to receive the 1st ISO 22000 – Food Safety Management System (FSMS) Certified Meat Plant and 2nd 2nd in the world.

Challenges in Business and Transcending Them

Just like any other business, MEKENI had their own fair share of challenges in doing business. When the Mt. Pinatubo eruption wreaked havoc on their business and left most of the community homeless and helpless, to the outbreak of “foot-and-mouth-disease” (FMD) and the 1997 Asian financial crisis, MEKENI braved it all. They could easily throw in their towel and say, “Enough. We cannot do anything because this is a nature’s wrath. We can part ways and start our new life.” But for MEKENI, which in Kampangan means “Come here”. True their name, MEKENI accepted these challenges and use these as their springboard to welcome those who need their help, bounce back again and move further to where God directs them to go. It is an amazing faith that as small as mustard seed, and yet has grown big that continue to provide employment. community service, quality products and impeccable service.

Various Awards and Recognitions:

MEKENI was conferred as compliant to Food Safety System Certification (FSSC), the latest and most comprehensive international standards on food safety and quality and also received the International Quality Award Platinum (2013) and Gold (2012) Category in Frankfurt Germany and Geneva, Switzerland, respectively.

HACCP: A State-of-the-Art Approach to Food Safety

“National Winner” for three (3) Consecutive Years Search for the Best Meat Processing Plant - “AAA” Category (CY 2004, CY 2005, & CY 2006)

“Grand Slam Winner CY 2007”* Best Meat Processing Plant for “AAA” Category Department of Agriculture in cooperation with: The Department of Interior &  Local Government (DILG) The Department of Health (DOH) The Department of  Environment & Natural Resources (DENR)
 * Awarded by the National Meat Inspection Service

Eco Watch Awardee (awarded by the DENR EMB) -  Blue category in 2006, Green category in 2007, Double Green in 2008, Silver in 2009, Double Silver in 2010, and is a nominee for Gold Outstanding Environmental Performance for the year 2011.

Top Revenue District Tax Payer – Corporate Category CY 2007 awarded by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, District IV (BIR-IV).

The 2004 Outstanding Meat-Processed Food Brand during the 21st Annual Year-ended Excellence Award - National Consumer Affairs Foundation and Media Power, Inc.

The 2004 National Shoppers’ Choice Annual Awards - ASIA-Pacific Shoppers’ Choice Institute, Shoppers’ Choice Magazine, Essence Privilege Card, Henz KPMR Marketing, Inc., and the Asian-Philippines Association of Marketing Professionals

The 2004 Most Environmentally Responsive Corporation - Development Bank of the Philippines.

From these various awards and recognition, it paved way for MEKENI to diversify and gallantly entered the Japan market by initially supplying pickled ginger from the Philippines and later on to be the first and only meat processing company accredited by Japan Government to export meat products from the Philippines for Japanese market.

To date, MEKENI is one of the country’s major players in the meat processing and has been exporting in United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Australia and Japan. Apart from processed meat products like hotdogs, tocino, tapa, longganisa, ham and many more, MEKENI has also developed marine products. grated cassava, suman, the first yogurt sausage which are also exported and being sold locally in the major supermarkets.

External Links:

www.mekeni.com

http://business.inquirer.net/23675/from-a-backyard-venture-to-a-global-enterprise

http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/11/10/13/how-pampangas-mekeni-became-billion-peso-company

http://www.philstar.com/food-and-leisure/2013/03/14/919255/mekeni-proudly-pinoy

http://2016.mb.com.ph/2016/10/04/family-values-drive-mekenis-success/