Philippine Food Exporters Debut Dedicated Pavilion at Fine Food Australia 2026, Seek Partnerships

Eleven Philippine food companies, including four from the Bicol region, presented diverse products from pili nuts to mangoes at the first dedicated Philippine Pavilion at Fine Food Australia 2026 in Melbourne, aiming to secure distributors and expand their presence in the Australian market. This initiative highlights the Philippines' strategic efforts to bolster food exports and foster trade relations within Australia and Oceania.

Subscribe to newsletter

The Philippines made a significant mark at Fine Food Australia 2026 in Melbourne with the establishment of its first dedicated Philippine Pavilion. Held from August 31 to September 3 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the pavilion showcased 11 Philippine food companies, including four from the Bicol region, presenting a diverse array of products from pili nuts and mangoes to coconut oil and Filipino-inspired ice cream. This collective "debut," as described by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Export Marketing Bureau, aimed to connect Filipino exporters directly with Australian importers, distributors, and retailers.

The DTI Export Marketing Bureau Assistant Director Maria Katrina Rivera emphasized that the pavilion serves as a crucial gateway for Philippine exporters to forge new business opportunities and long-term partnerships, strengthening trade and investment ties with Australia and the wider Oceania region. The initiative follows earlier efforts by the DTI, including an information session in August 2026 that provided market insights and entry strategies for over 100 Philippine food exporters to Australia, as reported by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Among the participating companies were Bahaghari Global Food Incorporated, Global Food Solutions Incorporated, McCormick Philippines Incorporated, and Oleo-Fats Incorporated. Notably, the Bicol region was well-represented by Albay Pili Nut Candy, Berton Pili Nut Candies and Pastries, Muravah Foundation Incorporated, and PiliCrush Food Enterprise. Albay Vice Governor Farida “Diday” Co highlighted the delegation's goal to not just introduce products but to "close many deals" to penetrate the global market, particularly in Australia, underscoring the strong business implications for these Filipino enterprises.

Companies like Berton Pili Nut Candies and Pastries are actively seeking Australian distributors for their pili nut products, such as dehydrated pili nuts with Himalayan salt and mazapan de pili, promoting them as "creamier and milky" alternatives to other nuts. Similarly, Parañaque-based Mensch Filam Corporation utilized the exhibition to introduce its frozen and bottled mango products to the Australian market. This focused approach by Filipino businesses signals a concerted effort to increase the availability and awareness of Philippine food products among Australian consumers and businesses, as also covered by SBS Filipino and The Philippine Times.