RL FOODS Corp. is planning to bring its popular R. Lapid’s Chicharon or pork rinds to other Asian markets.

Rey C. Lapid, president and owner of RL Foods, said the company is currently in talks with firms in South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam for the export of its chicharon products.

“I’m planning here in Asia,” he told reporters, when asked about the company’s expansion plans.

Mr. Lapid, who created the R. Lapid’s Chicharon & Barbecue brand, said the company, as early as 2015, began exporting its chicharon products to some parts of the Middle East.

He noted the chicharon products mainly caters to overseas Filipino workers who crave for pork products, which are scarce in Middle Eastern countries.

“I have a distributor, siya naging exporter ko in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, which is for Muslim pero marami (Filipinos) naghahanap ng R. Lapid’s Chicharon. So doon ako naka-concentrate,” Mr. Lapid said.

R. Lapid’s is said to be the first chicharon manufacturer to use pork skin raw materials from the United States, Europe, Canada, and South Korea. The company continues to import pork skin due to the lack of sufficient local sources.

“So my challenge now [is] how to export. Kasi kaya bumababa ang peso compared sa US dollar because of import, import, import. That’s not good. So the best [solution is], if you import, you can also export,” he added.

Two years ago, RL Foods began using metalized film packaging as a way to extend the shelf life of its chicharon product to up to 90 days and meet export standards.

However, a main hindrance to RL Foods’ export ambitions is the lack of capacity to increase production of chicharon products.

“I want it automated high-tech. I [had] to invest another P15 million just for expansion,” he said, adding the ongoing upgrade of its facilities will be completed by year end or in the first quarter next year.

Started in 1974, RL Foods is one of the largest manufacturer of chicharon in the Philippines. — Janina C. Lim









