Exhibiting at IFEX Philippines 2025

VL Food Products, based in General Santos City, Philippines, is a well-established tuna and seafood processing company with over 25 years of experience in manufacturing and distributing high-quality frozen and value-added marine products. Strategically located in the General Santos Fishport Complex in Barangay Tambler—one of Southeast Asia’s major tuna landing sites—VL Food Products capitalizes on direct access to premium catch, ensuring freshness and consistent supply.

Core Business

The core business of VL Food Products revolves around the processing, packaging, and distribution of frozen tuna cuts and value-added seafood products. Serving both the wholesale and retail markets, the company is committed to sustainable sourcing, hygienic production, and culinary innovation using one of the Philippines' top marine exports—yellowfin and skipjack tuna.

Product and Service Offerings

VL Food Products offers a wide range of SKUs across frozen, ready-to-cook, and snack categories:

• Frozen Tuna Cuts

  • Tuna Belly
  • Tuna Panga (Jaw)
  • Tuna Cubes
  • Tuna Sashimi-grade Cuts

• Value-added Tuna Products

  • Tuna Tocino (sweet-cured)
  • Tuna Chorizo (spicy or sweet)
  • Tuna Embutido (Filipino meatloaf)
  • Tuna Lumpia (spring rolls)
  • Tuna Sisig (pre-cooked, sauté-ready)

• Tuna Skin & Seafood Snacks

  • Salted Egg Tuna/Fish Skin Chips
  • Squid Sisig
  • Squid Calamares

Each product is produced under strict sanitary guidelines and is flash-frozen or vacuum-packed for optimal shelf life.

Specialization and Core USP

VL Food Products differentiates itself through:

• Proximity to the tuna landing port, ensuring same-day processing for freshness
• A specialized line of Filipino-style tuna products, uncommon in standard export markets
• Small-batch craftsmanship, enabling quality control and recipe consistency
• Ability to cater to both bulk orders and retail-ready private label products

Their ability to blend traditional Filipino flavor profiles with modern convenience formats creates a unique market proposition both domestically and for overseas Filipinos.

Financial Strength

As a privately owned SME, VL Food Products’ financial data is not publicly available, but its long-standing presence, facility expansion, and consistent product innovation suggest a stable growth trajectory. Highlights include:

• Over two decades of continuous operation
• Participation in domestic trade fairs and growing online presence
• Expansion into value-added processing lines, indicating capital reinvestment

The business has sustained operations even during pandemic disruptions, indicating operational resilience.

Shipment Data and Export Record

Although primarily focused on domestic distribution within Mindanao and Visayas, VL Food Products has begun exploring export opportunities through B2B sourcing platforms. Shipment-related highlights:

• Estimated Monthly Output: 15–20 metric tons (combined frozen and value-added)
• Export-Ready Products: Tuna tocino, tuna sashimi, and tuna embutido
• Distribution Channels: Wet markets, supermarkets, frozen food resellers, and institutional buyers (hotels, restaurants)

They maintain relationships with cold-chain logistics providers to support broader regional expansion.

Target Market

VL Food Products targets:

• Foodservice providers (restaurants, canteens, catering companies)
• Retailers and supermarket chains seeking private-label frozen seafood
• Export consolidators focused on Filipino specialty food items
• Direct consumers through local distributors and pop-up events

Their tuna-based ready-to-cook items offer affordable protein options aligned with Filipino tastes and health trends.

Capabilities

VL Food Products’ capabilities include:

• On-site seafood processing plant within the Gensan Fishport Complex
• Flash-freezing, vacuum-packing, and cold storage
• Recipe development team for flavor profiling and food safety
• Multi-format packaging lines for institutional and retail orders
• Fulfillment of small-lot and large-volume orders

The company adheres to local BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) standards for seafood handling and processing.

Certifications and Compliance

VL Food Products complies with the following:

• Sanitary and Business Permits from General Santos LGU
• BFAR-registered seafood processing facility
• Ongoing efforts to obtain FDA product notification and HACCP compliance for broader export viability

Its operational site within the fishport complex ensures adherence to government-monitored hygiene and temperature standards.

Customer Testimonials

Customer feedback from online and offline retail outlets highlights:

• The freshness and flavor retention of tuna belly and panga
• Value-added tuna products like tocino and embutido praised for convenience and taste
• Snack products like salted egg tuna skin cited for crunch and flavor uniqueness

Positive word-of-mouth in General Santos and surrounding provinces reinforces strong customer loyalty.

Major Achievements

• Over 25 years of continuous operation in General Santos' competitive seafood sector
• Developed one of the broadest tuna value-added product lines in the region
• Expanded beyond fresh cuts into shelf-ready and snack product categories
• Built a reputation as a reliable partner for institutional seafood sourcing

VL Food Products continues to evolve as a homegrown leader in tuna innovation, bringing authentic Filipino seafood experiences to both local and soon, international tables.