Nestle Philippines, Inc. has assured continued market support for coffee produced in Mindanao, which provides the bulk of domestic coffee beans processed by the company. Mauricio Alarcon, Nestle Philippines chair and CEO, stated that the company is committed to supporting coffee farmers in Mindanao, not just in Sultan Kudarat, the country’s top coffee producer. Nestle has existing manufacturing plants, agricultural training support, and buying stations in parts of the island. The company aims to develop a circular economy in the Philippines, benefiting not just coffee farmers but also other industries such as suppliers of machinery, warehousing, packaging, and transport. Nestle purchased 9,000 tons of local coffee this season, with 80% supplied by Sultan Kudarat, and currently buys coffee beans at P275 per kilo. The company plans to open new buying stations in other parts of Mindanao if there is sufficient coffee supply. Mindanao is a major coffee-producing region in the Philippines, with seven of the top 10 coffee-producing provinces located in the island, including Sultan Kudarat, Bukidnon, Davao del Sur, Davao de Oro, Maguindanao, Sulu, and Basilan.
