Gardenia Philippines Inaugurates its Newest State-of-the-Art Mindanao Plant

The long wait is over for the people of Mindanao particularly Kagay-anons as Bread market leader Gardenia Bakeries officially opens its new most advanced, fully-automated bread manufacturing facility in Mindanao to serve the increasing demand for Gardenia products in the south.

 The new plant will have a capacity of producing 130,000 loaves and buns a day which will be distributed with an increased fleet of trucks all over the region. It is also expected to generate hundreds of employment and contribute to the economic growth in the region. 

Gardenia president Jun Umali said the new plant and expanded operations in Mindanao will now give consumers fresher bakery products and continual stock availability and accessibility. “We are now bringing Gardenia breads closer to our consumers with the opening of our newest plant. With our current distribution capabilities, 

Gardenia is available in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Surigao and Zamboanga del Norte, Butuan and Kidapawan but we will intensify our market penetration and saturation to widen our network, and eventually, reach every corner of Mindanao,” Umali asserted. 

Fully automated bread plant The 2.5-hectare world class Gardenia plant, located in PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate, Misamis Oriental, adjacent to Cagayan de Oro City, is now the most advanced bread manufacturing plant in Mindanao. “This completely new breadline features robotics and the latest innovations in modern baking. All major equipment are sourced from the best and reliable bakery equipment suppliers in Germany, the Netherlands, United States, Malaysia and Japan,” Umali shared. He added that the integration of these machineries and equipment into one unit is the company’s expertise learned from Gardenia’s operations in Asia-Pacific, thus enabling them to develop a proprietary manufacturing process unique to Gardenia Philippines. Umali also shared that the plant is designed to allow consumers to witness and experience the modern baking process through a catwalk plant tour especially for consumers from Mindanao. Quality bread offerings “To ensure the high quality, freshness and great taste of Gardenia products, we use flour made from US wheat, milled to Gardenia’s high-quality specifications, milk from Australia or USA, and other imported premium ingredients,” Umali assures. 

Wide variety of Gardenia products will be produced in the Mindanao bread facility, including white breads, health bread selections, flavored loaf offerings and buns or pandesal. Gardenia’s affordable loaf brand, Neubake, is also offered.

Strategic facility location Umali explained that choosing a site adjacent to Cagayan de Oro as the location of the P1-billion investment is a strategic move. “Our new plant is purposefully located not only for Mindanao commercial operations. This will also serve as support to our Cebu plant or Visayas market. We can also dispatch breads easily to other areas when the need arrives, especially in the event of major calamities or natural disasters in those areas,” he explained. “Moreover, the plant’s proximity to the ports of Cagayan de Oro, the gateway to Mindanao, ensures the availability and accessibility of ingredients,” Umali added. Continued growth and leadership Umali emphasized that the construction of the Mindanao plant is a continuation of the company’s goal to reach more of its consumers.

“With Gardenia in Mindanao, world-class quality bread products that will satisfy your appetites as well as feed your hearts will be at your fingertips. Our products will come to you fresh, delicious and healthy as we take Gardenia and breadmaking to the next level,” Umali concludes.

Here's a video from Gardenia and VFactor.

Read more

Big Bite Northern Mindanao Food Festival 2019

Half a decade ago, the first Big Bite Food Festival in Northern Mindanao uncovered an exciting food culture in the region. Founded by Centrio Ayala Mall, it has become mall management’s great pride and joy to discover new and innovative food entrepreneurs and enthusiasts comprising an incredibly dynamic local food industry.

The first Big Bite Food Festival was held in Marquee mall in Pampanga, a regional food haven in the North. Further down south in 2014, Mindanao followed suit with Cagayan de Oro’s then brand new Centrio Ayala mall offering itself as venue. Both festivals form part of Ayala mall’s institutionalized support for local food business and concepts.

Big Bite features the obvious massive-sized food items as festival highlight. Past years have revealed the giant halo-halo, the region’s largest maja blanca, enormous ham sliders, a colossal pineapple crumble and an oversized bowl of salad among a host of other interesting savory flavors and dessert delights in gigantic portions. In addition to such titanic highlights, Centrio gives an award to the year’s best food discovery, as judged by the country’s food industry leaders and celebrities. 

This year, gracing the festivities is the Philippines’ Idol sa Kusina, Chef Boy Logro. The Chef Master of GMA network is joined by young television host and former VJ, Joyce Pring to oversee stimulating culinary competitions and other cooking events throughout the 4-day fiesta. Celebrity Chef JP Anglo, host of CNN’s Hungry with Chef JP will be the festival’s Special Guest; completing the set are some of the country’s top food bloggers including The Pickiest Eater in the World, Ritchie Zamora. 

Big Bite regulars have come to expect fresh food concepts interspersed with all-time favorites from homegrown restaurants in the local food scene. What’s more, they are treated to excellent music featuring the best of local artists, and gastronomic sets in visually exhilarating scenes and instagrammable nooks and crannies which best showcase the epicurean pleasures the festival has to offer.

The Big Bite Northern Mindanao Food Festival runs from Thursday till Sunday, March 14-17, 2019.

See you there!

Read more

Cinnabon in Cagayan de Oro City

The indulging aroma of Cinnabon has been in the Philippines since 1999. The opening of it's very first Manila bakery in October 1999, made milestone as the very first Cinnabon bakery in Asia. It is the only foreign franchised bakery food concept operating in the country that specializes in cinnamon rolls which remains unparalleled up to this time.

To date there are twenty-one (21) bakeries in the country, opening in malls, airport and travel centers including the very first bakery in Mindanao which opened last year at SM CDO Downtown Premier.

Gone are the days of asking friends to buy you a Cinnabon goodies at the airport because this yummy baked treat is now here in Cagayan de Oro City.

In case you and your friends have not decided where to catch up over coffee or snack, or you want to buy some pasalubong for friends and loved ones, drop by Cinnabon at the Ground Floor of SM CDO Downtown Premier.

Read more

We Are Women at SM: Exclusive Deals in All Wednesdays of March at SM CDO Downtown Premier

SM CDO Downtown Premier wants this month to be extra special as they celebrate International Women's Month. All the women in Cagayan de Oro get's amazing deals and instant treats for the whole month of March.

So what are these offerings for Women's Month?

Cute Vanity Pop-up for those who love take selfies.
For the whole month of March, shoppers can randomly take selfies and groufies at the beautiful set-up located at the event center.

Items on Discounted Prices
These items are located beside the cute vanity pop up at the event center. You can choose items from SM Fashion accessories and SM Beauty.

Women's Wednesday SMAC Sale
Enjoy the SM store's special women's month offer. Get extra 10% off during all Wednesdays of March from participating departments.

Women's Wednesday Sale for other Tenants
Enjoy sale items from SM tenants such as Bench, Guess, Bayo, Giordano, Mags, Treasures by Carla, Noregold, Forme, Diagold, Oro Italia, Bagel Girl and Dickies.

Women's Specials

Because women are special, SM came up with offerings like discounts and buy 1 take 1 sale from wellness centers such as: CDO Skin Health Experts, Cardinail Eyecare Clinic, Nadela Dental Care, Nailandia, Aruga, Ammuma and Eyebrowse.

Not only that, get instant treat by scanning through the QR cube located at the ground floor (near Uniqlo shop).

Apart from the offerings, worthwhile programs are also in place:

March 10 - Regional Finals of Ms. Teen Philippines

March 23 - "We are Women Talk Show"featuring inspiring women like Tisha Biruar (Muslim Social Media Influencer), Tweetie Bullercer (Fitspirational Speaker from Davao), Karen Lluch (former Ms.Cagayan de Oro and Cancer Survivor) and Ms. Mags Cue (entrepreneur and philanthropist).

So save the dates and create SM Moments with your girl friends in this Women's Month!

#WeAreWomenAtSM

Read more

Transformation Overload: How Greenwich Takes the Barkada Experience to the Next Level

If there’s one thing that the homegrown pizza and pasta brand’s hip store transformation goes to show, it’s how Greenwich continuously progresses and evolves through the years. Gone are the bright, vibrant colors of the old Greenwich as its new pizzerias now carry a chicer aesthetic. From the brick walls adorning its spaces, to the typography on its panels, one could mistake themselves to be lost in a pizzeria somewhere abroad. At its core though, Greenwich is still the same chain that offers the best-tasting pizzas and pastas that barkadas has loved ever since. This design transformation shows Greenwich’s upgrading efforts in recent years, shifting its store design offerings for customers. From being a fast-food joint where groups just dine and go, Greenwich has elevated its dining experience where barkadas can come in, hang out, and bond over great food and shared memories.

As Greenwich evolves its aesthetic, this proves how the brand is dedicated to serving barkadas, staying true to the youthful, hip, and trendy values that have long been embedded in their DNA. Sticking to those values also mean being constantly open to innovation and creativity.

The result? A rustic-meets-industrial design that could rival any trendy establishment, as is commonly seen in many Millennial-centric businesses such as cafés and bars. Borrowing mid-century elements and industrial architecture, the stores feature several Instagram-worthy elements, like the use of wood and bricks to create that familiar neighborhood feel. Timeless details married with modern design elements create that warm and intimate setting, perfect for a local hangout.

Below is the new pizzeria look of Greenwich Limketkai in Cagayan de Oro City.

With Greenwich’s store look transformation, it’s clear that Greenwich is targeting this generation’s Millennials, who often dine out with their barkadas and as social media natives, demand a more interactive experience when it comes to their dining choices. 

Greenwich’s new pizzerias, for example, feature visual elements such as artistic murals and graphics in-store, perfect for Instagram addicts to spruce up their feed with. A key design of the Pizzerias features a see-through window where diners can watch the magic of creating the best-tasting pizzas up close. 

 Aside from the brand's slick new look that is sure to get several double taps on social media, of course, one more thing to look forward to is Greenwich’s exciting menu. Greenwich still offers the best of its pizza and pasta menu, such as its best-selling Hawaiian Overload pizza, Ultimate Meaty Overload pizza, and the Lasagna Supreme. 

 In case you and your friends have not decided where to catch up over lunch or dinner this week, drop by at Greenwich Limketkai or any of Greenwich pizzeria stores near you and witness the overloaded transformation first-hand. Greenwich, the country’s favorite pizza and pasta chain, has close to 300 stores nationwide. 

For delivery, call by pressing # then 5-55-55 or order online via www.greenwichdelivery.com.

Read more