Exhibiting at IFEX Philippines 2025

Bestfriend Goodies (BFG) is a pioneering food manufacturer based in Cagayan de Oro, Mindanao, Philippines, renowned for its Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food innovations and heritage pasalubong products. By merging local culinary traditions with science-backed food technology, the company serves both mainstream consumers and nutritionally vulnerable sectors, establishing itself as a key player in the Philippine processed food industry.

Company History

Established in 2015, Bestfriend Goodies was founded by Nenita Tan with a vision to provide convenient, nutritious, and delicious Filipino foods. Initially focused on traditional baked goods and pasalubong treats, the company diversified into RTE food production in response to the growing demand for safe and shelf-stable meals, especially in times of crisis and for underserved communities. With support from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and its affiliated research institutions, BFG rapidly evolved into a model enterprise for food innovation in Mindanao.

Core Business

The core business of Bestfriend Goodies spans three key areas:

1. Ready-to-Eat (RTE) Meals: Long-shelf-life meals tailored for institutional feeding, emergency relief, and mobile consumers.
2. Pasalubong Products: Traditional Filipino confections and delicacies suitable for gifting and regional tourism.
3. Nutritional Solutions: Enhanced Nutribun (eNutribun) and functional snacks targeting malnutrition, developed under a tech-licensing partnership with the DOST-Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).

Product and Service Offerings

• RTE Meals in Retort Pouches:

  • Arroz Caldo
  • Champorado
  • Chicken Tinola
  • Monggo with Dilis
  • Binignit
  • Mixed Fruits RTE

• Pasalubong & Snacks:

  • Pastillas de Leche
  • Crispy Mushroom Chips
  • Fruit Jams (Mango, Pineapple)
  • Dried Mangoes and Mixed Fruits
  • Baked Cookies

• Nutritional Products:

  • Enhanced Nutribun (eNutribun)
  • Energy-boosted biscuit packs for school feeding programs

• Amazon-Listed Snack Bundles:

  • Dried Monggo, Champorado, and Mixed Fruits in bundle formats

Specialization and Core USP

Bestfriend Goodies’ unique value proposition lies in its application of advanced food processing technologies like retort sterilization and vacuum packaging to preserve Filipino dishes in a ready-to-eat format. This allows them to serve emergency feeding programs, disaster relief operations, and institutional clients with nutrient-dense meals that have 1 to 2 years of shelf life without refrigeration. The company is also one of the first in Mindanao licensed to commercialize the government-backed eNutribun for childhood nutrition.

Financials

While detailed private financials are undisclosed, their partnerships with agencies like DOST, FNRI, and the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) indicate sustained funding support and capability building. Their expansion into institutional markets and Amazon exports highlights a stable and growing revenue model. As of 2023, the company reportedly supplied over 100,000 eNutribuns to regional feeding programs.

Shipment and Export Activity

• Listed by IFEXConnect as a Philippine Exporter since 2015
• Amazon U.S. listing of BFG snack bundles indicates cross-border e-commerce fulfillment
• Prepared for increased export via DOST-supported packaging and logistics enhancements

Target Market

• Local consumers purchasing pasalubong and snacks
• Institutional clients (schools, LGUs, NGOs)
• International buyers via Amazon and trade shows
• Emergency relief organizations (e.g., LGUs, DSWD)

Capabilities

• Retort pouch processing for ambient shelf-stable meals
• Vacuum packaging and dehydration systems for snacks
• HACCP-aligned food safety protocols
• Licensed manufacturing of FNRI-developed eNutribun and functional food
• Ability to scale for institutional, retail, and export markets

Certifications and Compliance

• DOST-FNRI licensee for enhanced Nutribun
• Compliant with Philippine FDA regulations
• Product and process development in collaboration with USTP and the DOST Packaging R&D Center

Customer Testimonials

Stakeholders in LGU feeding programs and school nutrition campaigns have praised BFG’s RTE meals and eNutribuns for their quality, palatability, and convenience. User feedback via Amazon also shows positive ratings on snack quality and packaging appeal.

Major Achievements

• Successfully pivoted from a pasalubong seller to a DOST-accredited RTE food producer
• First commercial licensee of FNRI’s Enhanced Nutribun in Northern Mindanao
• Developed over 15 variants of shelf-stable RTE meals with DOST collaboration
• Expanded from local sales to Amazon marketplace with shelf-stable snack bundles
• Recognized at multiple food innovation events including IFEX Philippines

Bestfriend Goodies continues to redefine food sustainability and accessibility in the Philippines, proving that tradition and technology can co-exist in building a socially-driven, commercially viable food enterprise.