Uni eyes flour mill

Uni-President Enterprises, Taiwan's largest food conglomerate, is planning to invest in a multimillion-dollar integrated flour milling facility in the Philippines, according to a report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

A source from the Manila Economic and Cultural Office said the President group was exploring other investment opportunities in the country, specifically in flour milling, to further expand its presence in the local food market.

The President group currently runs the 7-Eleven chain of 24-hour convenience stores both in Taiwan and the Philippines. It acquired 50.4 per cent of the local franchise from Philippine Seven a few years ago.

The source said the President group wanted a bigger investment and that it would not settle for just flour milling as it wanted a fully integrated manufacturing operation there.

The source said the President group already runs an integrated flour milling plant in Taiwan which it was planning to duplicate in the Philippines. The source said the group wanted to be close to its target market.

The President group currently has a joint venture for noodle manufacturing with RFM, which is among the top 3 flour millers in the country. The other big millers are Pillsbury and General Milling.

The President group exports a wide range of food products (such as flour, edible oil, instant foods, beverages, dairy products, condiments, bakery products, frozen health foods, and processed meat products) and animal feeds through more than 100 companies and affiliates worldwide.