IF you happen to walk pass the Glorietta Activity Center in Ayala Center, Makati City, this weekend (May 20 to 22, 2016) and there’s a lot of buzz going on, don’t be surprised. It’s Experience New Zealand 2016 that’s ongoing.
Put together by the New Zealand Embassy, the three-day event showcases the best of New Zealand’s food and beverage and gives Filipinos an opportunity to learn more about traveling to New Zealand and studying there, too.
A lot of New Zealand products are already available in the Philippines, such as kiwifruits, oysters, mussels and other fresh seafood, as well as lamb, beef, milk, cheese, cream and other dairy products, chocolates and ice cream, and the premium Manuka honey.
Participating in Experience New Zealand 2016 are local companies who import and distribute New Zealand products. These include New Zealand Natural, Sonrace Inc., Goodman Fielder International Phils. Inc., Fonterra Brands Phils., Don Revy Phils., Federated Distributors Inc., Equilibrium Intertrade Corp., Elite Fruit Marketing Inc., Alexanrey Enterprises, Manuka Health New Zealand, Ecostore, and MyOwn Meat Shop.
New Zealand Natural is the leading premium ice cream brand in New Zealand. It specializes in ice cream without artificial flavors or colors, which is now available in scooping stations located in major malls in the country.
Sonrace Inc. has brought Whittaker’s chocolates to the Philippines, where its many different variants can be bought from major supermarkets across the country.
Goodman Fielder International Phils. Inc. is the Philippine representative of Goodman Fielder, Australasia’s leading food company that manufactures and markets a wide range of products, including Meadow Fresh Milk.
Fonterra Brands Phils. is quite known, since it imports and distributes the Anchor brand of butter, cheese, cream and milk, among others.
Don Revy manufactures and distributes beverages from Australia, Chile, Europe and New Zealand, including wines and spirits. From New Zealand, it carries quite a number of wine brands, such as Jules Taylor Wines, Pebble Lane Wines, Toi Toi Wines, Gladstone Vineyard Wines, Rabbit Ranch Wines, Mills Reef Wines and Squawking Magpie Wines. In the Philippines, these brands are available is supermarkets, groceries, convenience stores and wine shops.
Federated Distributors Inc. sells Palm Corned Beef and Palm Liver Spread. Filipinos particularly love Palm Corned Beef, which is made from 100% premium quality beef from New Zealand, where livestock is raised on natural green pastureland.
Equilibrium Intertrade Corp. brings in The Better Drinks Co.’s unique juices, smoothies and carbonated non-alcoholic drinks. Two of the top New Zealand beverage brands are Phoenix (organic juices and organic sodas) and Charlie’s (quenchers and fruit fix).
Elite Fruit Marketing Inc. makes it possible for Filipinos to enjoy Zespri Green Kiwifruit and Zespri Gold Kiwifruits and, now, also Enza Apples, Jazz Apples and New Zealand Persimmons.
Alexanrey Enterprises Inc. imports and distributes a wide range of food products. From New Zealand, it has brought in Tastemaker Vinegars, Nanric Road (fruit jams, fruit pastes, jelly, sauces and mustard), Sweet Nature honey and honey products, and Red Seal teas, toothpaste, molasses and Manuka honey.
Speaking of Manuka honey, Manuka Health New Zealand sells effective natural health care products, such as Manuka Honey, Royal Jelly, Propolis liquid and capsules, Bee Pollen granules and capsules, and Manuka Honey skin care products.
Ecostore is all about healthy body care products that contain no toxic chemicals.
MyOwn Meat Shop is the importer and distributor of premium meat (including lamb, beef and chicken), seafood and vegetables.
During the opening rites of Experience New Zealand 2016, a lot of products of participating brands were incorporated by event caterer Bizu into delicious appetizers, main dishes, desserts, and drinks served to New Zealand’s trade partners and media friends.
These included Corned Beef, Caramelized Onions and Hollandaise in Pain au Lait Roll (using Palm Corned Beef); Roasted New Zealand Bone Marrow with Crostini (using ANZCO Bone Marrow); Smoked Salmon with Dill Pistachio and Meadow Fresh Cream Cheese Mousseline (using Meadow Fresh Cream Cheese); Wild Mushroom Carbonara (using Anchor Cream); and Baked Stuffed New Zealand Mussels with Blue Cheese and Bechamel (using Tally’s Mussels and Meadow Fresh Milk).
The desserts also showcased the products from New Zealand, including New Zealand Natural Ice Cream Profiteroles (using New Zealand Natural Ice Cream) and Whittaker’s Macarons (which had chunks of Whittaker’s chocolates hidden within the French macaron.
Experience New Zealand 2016 also features Philippine Airlines, which now flies the Manila-Auckland route four times weekly; ANZ Philippines, a fully licensed universal bank; Philippines-New Zealand Business Council, whose membership comprises Filipinos and New Zealanders who work or have business interests and pursuits in each other’s countries; Education New Zealand, which is New Zealand’s government agency for international education; as well as Tourism New Zealand, which markets New Zealand to the world as a visitor destination.
As an added treat, visitors of Experience New Zealand 2016 get a chance to win a Manila-Auckland-Manila round-trip ticket. For those who purchase Php2,000 worth of items sold by accredited booths inside the Experience New Zealand 2016 fair grounds, a raffle stub is given. There are five draws, scheduled on May 20 at 8:00 p.m., May 21 at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and May 22 at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
