Biz Briefs

Mangoes as beauty products

A NATURAL and organic personal care manufacturer is planning to come out with products made from Cebu’s mango fruit.

Anna Meloto- Wilk, Gandang Kalikasan, Inc. president, said the firm was negotiating with the University of Cebu and SCOPE Foundation for a partnership in developing natural personal care products from the waste mango skin and seed from dried mango factories in Cebu.

“I happen to be one of the judges for an inter-school event here last month and UC had this mango butter technology that we are very interested to try using in our products,” Wilk said.

Based on the information from UC, Cebu generates at least 75 percent of waste mango skin and seed every month.

She said these would be a good source of mango butter and oil that could be used in developing products like lotion, body butter, hair conditioner and massage oil.

“Mango oil is considered a premium product even more expensive than sunflower oil which we are now using in our products. We would be really glad if we can tap this available resource for more product developments under our Human Heart Nature brand,” said Wilk.

Over the last three years since launching their brand, Wilk said they  already sold about 2 million products and they were expecting to hit 3 million  products sold at the end of the year.

The firm has 22 branches nationwide and has recently opened outlets in Malaysia, Singapore and the United States. /Reporter Aileen Garcia Yap

Ayala Land’s P10B investment

AYALA Land, Inc. will pour in an additional P10 billion in investments for projects in Cebu over the next five years starting with their first multi-tower development project located in a 2.6 hectare lot in one of their Cebu Park District locations.

ALI president and Cebu Holdings, Inc. chairman Tony Aquino announced their newest offering to the Cebu market called Solinea that will be located in Cebu Business Park under their Alveo Land brand.

Construction will start on the first quarter of 2012.

“The first of the five towers will have 29 storeys and 591 units. There will be studio units, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and the two special units – garden flats and urban flats,” said Jennylle Tupaz,  Alveo Land project development head.

For the first tower, Tupaz said they were expecting total sales of P2.4 billion and an investment of P1.8 billion. Target for completion and turnover of units is set on the last quarter of 2016.

Aquino said that their continued investments in Cebu only shows their continued confidence in the market bringing in their best projects for the Cebuanos. /Reporter Aileen Garcia Yap

Japanese resto in Cebu

ACTOR and businessman Marvin Agustin, owner of the Sumo Sam chain of restaurants, is planning to open at least 10 to 15 outlets in the Visayas and Mindanao region next year.

Agustin announced the restaurant’s expansion plans during last week’s opening of the first Sumo Sam franchise and its biggest outlet in Ayala Center Cebu.

He said that they plan to invest from P5 million to 7 million in next year’s expansion.

Raymund Magdaluyo, Agustin’s business partner, said Cebu was their second outlet outside Manila after Davao.

“We intend to expand more in the Visayas and Mindanao region next year mostly through franchise agreements like this one here in Cebu. This year we will end with 10 branches,” Magdaluyo said.

“After Cebu, we are looking at opening one in Bacolod as the second outlet we will have in the Visayas,” said Agustin. /Reporter Aileen Garcia Yap