NEW YORK CITY – Filipinos in America will have one less thing to miss about home – tocino. Thanks to Mekeni Food Corp., that iconic Pinoy culinary delight will be
made available here.
“We have always set our sights on making products of world-class quality.
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 here abroad,” said Mekeni president
Prudencio Garcia, adding that bringing tocino to the USA is a testament to their
commitment to making Filipinos abroad feel closer to home.
“As we embark on this, we uplift lives of Filipinos by introducing to the world our
top-notch flavors,” he added.
Based in Pampanga, Mekeni Food Corp. 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.
The food company 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 productskikiam and fish ballsavailable 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. Press release
