UNIVERSAL ROBINA CORPORATION / URC

 

Universal Robina Corporation (URC) is one of the largest branded consumer food and beverage product companies in the Philippines. The company has a significant, and growing presence in the ASEAN. It is among the Philippines' pioneers in the industry. It has been operating for over 50 years since Mr. John Gokongwei, Jr. established Universal Corn Products Inc. in 1954, a cornstarch manufacturing plant in Pasig City.


ABOUT

Universal Robina Corporation (URC) is one of the largest branded consumer food and beverage product companies in the Philippines. The company has a significant, and growing presence in the ASEAN. It is among the Philippines' pioneers in the industry. It has been operating for over 50 years since Mr. John Gokongwei, Jr. established Universal Corn Products Inc. in 1954, a cornstarch manufacturing plant in Pasig City.


URC is engaged in an array of food-related businesses, including the production and distribution of branded consumer snack foods and beverages; commodities such as sugar and flour; and agro-industrial businesses mainly hogs, animal feed, and other related products.

URC has established itself to be the trailblazer in manufacturing through best-in-class technologies and processes. It has unswervingly showcased its innovation and excellence through groundbreaking products to the ASEAN market and wide distribution networks in both modern and traditional channels.

Mr. John envisioned URC to become a premiere food and beverage player across the ASEAN region with strong market position. URC products are also exported to other markets like the US, Europe, Japan, Korea, the Middle East, and also in West African countries like Ghana, and Nigeria through our URC Thailand office.

URC has built three strong regional brands over the years— Jack 'n Jill for snack foods, C2 Cool and Clean for ready-to-drink tea, and Great Taste for coffee. These brands are becoming popular across the ASEAN region.

URC's key to success has been attributed to building strong brands, robust product innovation pipeline, and world-class manufacturing and supply chain capabilities. URC will continue to transform and delight consumers in line with the changing competitive dynamics, and growth opportunities in Asia.

COMPANY HISTORY


Universal Robina Corporation (URC) traces its beginnings in 1954. At that time, Mr. John Gokongwei, Jr. did well as a trader. He had learned the trade when his father died before the Second World War. Mr. John worked hard during the conflict and postwar years, in order to prosper. However, while he thrived, he carefully examined his company and correctly predicted that trading would remain a low-margin business.

Mr. John decided to construct a corn milling plant to produce glucose and cornstarch. He named it Universal Corn Products (UCP), the first linchpin of the company that became the URC we know today.

Business was good for a time, it’s producing a commodity that consumers could easily access, until similar multinational companies in the country became hurdles. That’s why, Mr. John is continuously working with an eye towards the future. To stay ahead of the game, Mr. John had to diversify by producing and marketing his own branded consumer foods. He wanted to build the first 'local' multinational company (MNC), borne out of best practices.

Thus, Consolidated Food Corporation was born in 1961. Its 'home run' and pioneer product is Blend 45, the first locally-manufactured coffee blend, dubbed as the "Pinoy coffee". Blend 45 became the largest-selling coffee brand in the market, beating market Café Puro and Nescafé Panned chocolate Nips came after coffee. It’s a Filipino childhood staple. In 1963, Robina Farms started its operations of poultry products. This was also the beginning of the vertical integration of the Gokongwei businesses. In the late ‘60s, Robichem Laboratories were built. Its main purpose is to provide veterinary needs to farm businesses. In the latter part of the ‘70s, Robina Farms expanded when it entered the hogs business.

In 1966, Universal Robina Corporation was established. It pioneered the salty snacks industry through Chiz Curls, Chippy, and Potato Chips, under the Jack 'n Jill brand. Other snack products followed, as the company successfully introduced market leaders like Pretzels, Piattos, and Maxx.

In the coming decades, URC had more acquisitions and developments. In the early 1970s, the family entered the commodities business through the formation of Continental Milling Corporation, for flour milling and production. The late 1980s brought the acquisition of three sugar mills and refineries, under URC Sugar. These two businesses provided stable cash flows, and allowed for further vertical integration in the supply chain, to help URC weather any volatility in the cyclical commodities market. In line with this strategy, during the late ‘90s URC entered the plastics business, through URC Packaging.

While the businesses became more diversified, the companies were slowly integrated in order to streamline and minimize costs. In 2005, the present structure of the group was completed. All the different companies are now organized under the Universal Robina Corporation umbrella, divided into three focused groups:

the Branded Consumer Food Group, comprised of BCFG Domestic (including packaging) and International;
the Agro-Industrial Group, comprised of Universal Corn Products, Robina Farms, and Robichem;
and the Commodities Group, for sugar and flour divisions.

MILESTONES


PURPOSE, VALUES AND AMBITION

URC INVESTOR NEWS AND DISCLOSURES

JOHN L. GOKONGWEI, JRFounder

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JAMES L. GODirector, Chairman Emeritus
LANCE Y. GOKONGWEIDirector, Chairman
PATRICK HENRY C. GODirector, Executive Vice President
IRWIN C. LEEDirector, President and Chief Executive Officer
JOHNSON ROBERT G. GO, JR.Director
CHRISTINE MARIE B. ANGCOIndependent Director
RIZALINA G. MANTARINGIndependent Director
CESAR V. PURISIMAIndependent Director
ANTONIO JOSE U. PERIQUET, JR.Independent Director

LEADERSHIP TEAM

  • Shanie Ann S. Kawpeng
    Managing Director, Snack Foods, BCFG Philippines
  • Oscar I. Villamora
    Managing Director, Beverages, BCFG Philippines
  • Marcia Y. Gokongwei
    Managing Director, Operations & Corporate Functions, BCFG Philippines
  • Renato P. Cabati
    Managing Director, Sugar and Renewables
  • Vincent Henry C. Go
    Managing Director, Agro-Industrial Group and Food Services
  • Ellison Dean C. Lee
    Managing Director, Flour and Breads
  • Anna Milagros D. David
    Managing Director, URC International
  • Rodney Wong
    Vice President and General Manager, URM Malaysia
  • Jean Pierre S. Gamboa
    Vice President and General Manager, Vietnam
  • Tanant Suwanraks
    Vice President and General Manager, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia
  • Keerati Chulplang
    General Manager, Myanmar
  • Taufiqurrahman Basthami ST
    General Manager, Indonesia
  • Maria Sarah P. Albert
    General Manager, International Trading Operations (ITO)
  • Teofilo B. Eugenio, Jr.
    Vice President & General Manager, Nissin URC and Pasta
  • Eva Lusiana
    General Manager, Danone URC
  • Carlo Angelo M. Licuanan
    General Manager, Vitasoy URC

CORPORATE OFFICERS

  • James L. Go
    Chairman Emeritus
  • Lance Y. Gokongwei
    Chairman
  • Irwin C. Lee
    President & Chief Executive Officer
  • Anna Milagros D. David
    Chief Marketing Officer
  • Evelyn Chua-Ng
    Chief Financial Officer
  • Francisco M. Del Mundo
    Chief Investment, Strategy, and Corporate Services Officer
  • David J. Lim, Jr.
    Chief Supply Chain and Sustainability Officer
  • Elisa O. Abalajon
    Chief Human Resources Officer and Agile Transformation Lead
  • Krishna Mohan Suri
    Chief Research and Development Officer
  • Karen Therese C. Salgado
    Chief Information Officer
  • Socorro M.L. Banting
    Vice President
  • Rhodora T. Lao
    Corporate Controller and Chief Compliance and Risk Officer
  • Maria Celia H. Fernandez-Estavillo
    Corporate Secretary
  • Phoebe Ann S. Bayona
    Assistant Corporate Secretary
  • Charles Bernard A. Tañega
    Treasurer
  • Elvin Michael L. Cruz
    Corporate Legal Counsel
  • Jose Miguel T. Manalang
    Director, Strategy and Investor Relations

URC ROAD TO EDUCATION WITH DTC

Universal Robina Corporation's (URC) focus is to help improve the quality of life by supporting activities that contribute to education and youth development. It is because of this advocacy that the company partnered with Dynamic Teen Company, Inc. (DTC) for one of its philanthropic endeavors. DTC, an organization headed by 2009 CNN Hero Efren Penaflorida, exists to promote literacy to the disadvantaged by providing them guidance until they progress in their career and be productive contributors of society. URC has been supporting DTC since 2012 through its participation in several projects such as the Kariton Revolution, Kantina Kariton, and the sponsorship of the DTC Learning Center.

KARITON REVOLUTION

The Kariton Revolution was brought about by one of its young members, Cris "Kesz" Valdez. Through this event, DTC celebrates volunteerism and positive change. The event features different activities such as concerts for teachers, volunteerism themed contests, parade of karitons and motorcades.

URC has been supporting the Kariton Revolution since 2011. Last 2014, URC's newly launched Food Trucks joined DTC's push for change in the third year of Kariton Revolution. URC's Jack 'n Jill and C2 Cool and Clean food trucks gave out various treats during the Kariton Karavan (Parade of Pushcarts). The recently launched food trucks along with a sampling booth also offered snacks and drinks during the event held right after the parade.

URC LEARNING CENTER

Taking the relationship one step further, URC sponsored the construction of the 2nd floor of DTC's Red Building. The newly opened area called URC Learning Center has a classroom fully furnished with chairs, desks, whiteboards, and book shelves for incoming 9th and 10th grade students. There is also an office where volunteer teachers can prepare their lessons, as well as a Science laboratory. Adding more fun and creativity to these new learning spaces are walls adorned with murals of URC brands such as Refresh, C2 Cool and Clean, Payless Instant Mami and Jack 'n Jill Knots, Chiz Curls, Magic Flakes, Wafrets, Fun Fries and Roller Coaster.

WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU
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