Mekeni brings well-loved tocino to the US

Features, Food and Beverages

Mekeni brings well-loved tocino to the US

By TVN
July 13, 2022
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Pinoys in the United States have one less thing to miss about home: tocino. This is because Filipino home-grown brand Mekeni Food Corporation is bringing their very popular tocino to the US starting this month.

MEKENI IN NEW YORK. Consul General Elmer Cato (left) is presented with sample products by Prudencio Garcia, president of Mekeni Food International at the Philippine Center, 5th Avenue, New York City.

According to Mekeni President Prudencio Garcia, this move is a testament to their commitment to making Filipinos abroad feel closer to home.

“We have always set our sights on making world-class, top quality products. However, after making strides, we realized that it is more than that. Being able to produce and bring local products to the international arena brings more pride to our employees and Filipinos back home and abroad,” said Garcia. “As we embark on this, we uplift lives of Filipinos by introducing to the world our top-notch flavors.”

Mekeni Tocino is now available in all branches of Island Pacific.

Mekeni, a Pampanga-based food company, is internationally recognized for its world-class manufacturing process. It is the first in Asia and the second in the world to receive the certificate of compliance with ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System standard. It is also the first company accredited by the Japanese government to export cooked products to the country.

It started as a backyard family business of former public school teachers Felix and Medicia in the early 1980s. Together with their five sons and with unwavering dedication, hard work, and desire to uplift lives in their community, Tatay Felix and Nanay Meding were able to grow the business into a world-class brand.

Mekeni surpassed several challenges including the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 and the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997. These hardships continue to inspire Mekeni and its leaders in its journey to expand the business across the globe. In 2012 and 2013, Mekeni received the Century International Quality ERA Award (Gold Category) in Switzerland and The International Arch of Europe Platinum Award in Germany, respectively.

Before the US, Mekeni has been catering to international markets such as Dubai, Bahrain, Brunei, Qatar, Australia, Japan, Canada, and the UK.

Prior to bringing Mekeni Tocino to the US market, Mekeni made two of their marine-based street food products kikiam and fish balls available in all branches of Island Pacific Supermarket last January.

These were instant hits to Filipinos as stocks immediately ran low a few days after it was made available. Likewise, it earned positive feedback from the community, which inspired Mekeni, one of the leading food manufacturers in the Philippines, to fast-track its exporting journey.

Mekeni’s tocino is among its best-selling products in the Philippines. It is made from quality meat marinated in a unique blend of spices.

“It is just the beginning for Mekeni. Our fellow Filipinos here can expect more products from us in the future,” concluded Garcia during the awarding of Gawad Alab ng Lahi organized by Hiraya Foundation and Philippine Consulate General New York.

For dealership inquiries and orders, you may contact NorthRidge Foods at 626-7890715 and northridge8@gmail.com or Ms. Rita Calubayan of CEE Enterprises Inc. located at 4201 Tonelle Avenue, North Bergen, NJ 08047.