IN spite of concerns over the rising cost of local raw materials, Nestlé Philippines has assured that they will continue their operations in the country.
In a statement sent to Cebu Daily News yesterday, Nestlé clarified that they do not plan on closing any of their manufacturing facilities in the country.
“We have been operating in the Philippines for 107 years now, and we look forward to doing business here in the next 100 years. Nestlé is here to stay,” the company said in its statement.
Nestlé Philippines was reacting to a report published by Japanese news agency Nikkei saying that the multinational food company was considering pulling out its coffee processing plant in Cagayan de Oro due to the ban on importing sugar for beverage makers.
The report quoted Nestlé Philippines Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs Ernesto Mascenon saying that this disadvantage has prompted them to study the option of closing their manufacturing in the country and move to countries like Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand and just import to the Philippines.
The Nikkei report also stated that Nestlé sources 70 percent of its coffee locally and that closing down its manufacturing plant could result in uncertainty for the 10,000 local growers they support.
“Coffee under our NESCAFÉ brand remains to be a core pillar for us, and we are committed to support the local coffee industry and our coffee farmers to growth,” the company clarified.