Global Pacific makes its mark at WOFEX 2026

 MANILA — From Cebu to the national stage,  Global Pacific made its mark at WOFEX 2026 for four days at the SMX Convention Center where the sound of sizzling pans, piping bags, and a thousand conversations about the future of food.

From July 29 to August 1, 2026, WOFEX once again proved why it’s the country’s biggest stage for chefs, bakers, restaurateurs, and food service professionals, and in the middle of it all, a Cebu-born company was quietly showing the industry how to grow without losing its roots.

GLOBAL PACIFIC wasn’t just another booth at WOFEX. It was a homecoming story, scaled up. From one butter brand to a national food partner. Founded in 2009 by a group of friends from Cebu, Global Pacific started with a single product-- butter. No big investors. No fancy launch. Just a belief that Filipino operators deserved reliable ingredients and real support.

Sixteen years later, that belief has turned into a nationwide network. Today, Global Pacific is one of the country’s most trusted food service partners, supplying restaurants, hotels, cafés, and bakeries from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi.

More importantly, it’s the bridge. Through a centralized ordering system and nationwide distribution, the company lets operators source multiple international brands through one contact — saving them time, money, and the headache of dealing with five different suppliers.

 “It’s about convenience, consistency, and dependability,” the company says. And at WOFEX, they proved it.

 A Passport of Flavors Under One Roof

Walk into the Global Pacific booth and you took a quick trip around the world. There was Arla Pro from Denmark for professional dairy, Kraft Heinz for sauces that everyone knows, Master Martini from Italy for premium baking, Prochiz from Indonesia for cheese, Beryl’s from Malaysia for chocolate, Banquet d’Or from Belgium for frozen pastries, and TEYS from Australia for premium beef.

But what made people stop wasn’t just the global names. It was the two homegrown ones: Bravo and Sunny Farms. Brands built by Global Pacific specifically for Philippine kitchens, shaped by what local operators actually ask for.

 “We’re constantly listening to operators and staying close to the market,” says Louren Chua-Sy, Marketing Manager for Bravo and Sunny Farms. “Because of that, we can turn ideas into practical solutions much faster. That’s what excites me about our own brands — we create solutions that help our customers succeed.”

 That listening-first approach is also why global brands trust them. “Martini Professional and Global Pacific have built a strong partnership over the years based on transparency and collaboration,” says Errol Rivera, Country Manager, Philippines, Martini Professional. “Our shared openness to new ideas and commitment to serving customers have made the relationship both effective and productive.”

Andrew Wisnu Sadeli, Marketing at Prochiz, puts it simply: “Working with Global Pacific has been a great experience because of their professionalism, responsiveness and deep understanding of the Philippine food service industry.”

At WOFEX, Global Pacific didn’t just sell products. It taught with them. Throughout the expo, the company hosted cooking demos led by some of the country’s top chefs. The goal: give owners and entrepreneurs ideas they could use the next day in their own kitchens.

The crowd favorite? Chef Bruce Lim’s steak demo featuring TEYS beef. He cooked the same cut two ways — premium ribeye and the more budget-friendly oyster blade — to show operators how to build menus with both quality and value.

“The quality of the beef and where it's sourced will always influence the final result,” Chef Bruce told the audience. “With quality meat and the right technique, operators can confidently build menus that offer both premium and value options without compromising the dining experience.”

It was a lesson many needed. With rising food costs and changing customer expectations, the message at WOFEX was clear: adapt, or get left behind.

On the last day, Chef Buddy Trinidad, President of the Pastry Alliance of the Philippines, gave the line that stuck.

“Yes, be mindful of your pricing. Be mindful of your portions. Be smart with your ingredients. Those are all important. But at the end of the day, people come back because of the memories you create and the emotional connection they have with your business.”

“There are many places serving great food today. What customers remember is how you made them feel—from the moment they walk through your doors until the moment they leave.”

In many ways, that’s also Global Pacific’s story.  What started as friends in Cebu with one butter brand became a national company not by chasing trends, but by building partnerships, investing in education, and putting customers first.

From a Cebu startup to a trusted partner of global brands and Filipino entrepreneurs, Global Pacific showed at WOFEX 2026 that homegrown vision, when paired with innovation and service, can make it to the national stage — and thrive there.

Global Pacific Philippines is one of the country's leading food service companies and the exclusive distributor of international brands such as Arla, BRAVO, Bakerdream, Beryl's, DLA, Conaprole, Castelvetere, Prochiz,Global Pacific) Devondale, Armando, Sunshine Dairy, Dionysus, Aviko, Bunge, Andros, Banquet D'or, OraSi, Prairie Farms, Master Martini, Flechard, Yamamori, Mlekpol, Easy, Teys, and Sunny Farms. For more information, visit globalpacific.com.ph (Photos:  Global Pacific)

Escudero pushes tobacco-style ban on gambling ads to curb rise in gaming addiction

CEBU CITY — Drawing a direct parallel to the fight against smoking two decades ago, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is spearheading a major legislative push to completely ban gambling advertisements and celebrity sponsorships across the Philippines.

Escudero filed Senate Bill No. 2347, which proposes sweeping prohibitions on promoting legal gambling across television, radio, print, and online platforms—including social media campaigns featuring popular influencers and celebrities.

The proposed measure is modeled directly after Republic Act 9211 (the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003), a landmark legislation Escudero helped pass during his tenure in the House of Representatives.

That law eliminated tobacco marketing from public sight to protect minors and public health. "It’s about time that we regulate the gambling industry the same way we regulated tobacco two decades ago. Both sectors pose significant risks when promotions become pervasive and youth-targeted,” Escudero stated.

While the gaming industry generated a massive ₱396.13 billion in Gross Gaming Revenues in Fiscal Year 2025—largely driven by a boom in online and digital gaming, Escudero warned that aggressive marketing tactics are fueling compulsive behavior and mental health concerns among vulnerable Filipinos.

Key Highlights of Senate Bill 2347

Total media blackout by banning gambling promotions on TV, radio, print, social media, and digital networks. No celebrity endorsements, by prohibiting influencers, athletes, and public figures from fronting gambling brand, and mandatory advisories, requiring clear health and risk warnings on all legal consumer communications.

The Bill also directs government agencies to conduct awareness campaigns regarding compulsive gaming risks and mental health support options. Strict penalties and industry transition acknowledging the economic impact on advertisers and operators, the bill includes a one-year transition period following its enactment, allowing companies to phase out existing ad contracts and sponsorships.

Once fully implemented, offenders will face strict, escalating penalties: Offense Fine Imprisonment Additional sanctions1st Offense Up to ₱200,000Up to 1 year; 2nd Offense Up to ₱300,000Up to 2 years; 3rd Offense Up to ₱500,000Up to 3 years revocation of business permits.

Foreign nationals and corporate officers found liable under the act will face direct sanctions, including potential deportation.

Building on recent self-regulation efforts by the Ad Standards Council, Escudero stressed that a nationwide legal framework is necessary to ensure uniform enforcement without regulatory loopholes.

SB 2347 has been referred to the appropriate Senate committee for formal deliberation. (Photos: Google Images/DTI-FB Posts)