History
Joselito Campos established Enriton Natural Foods, Inc. in 1990, with Nelicom as its lone brand.[4] Later that year, Enriton acquires Jufran and Mafran, while also entering a joint venture with Acres & Acres.[4] The joint venture would then be called Southeast Asia Food Inc. (SAFI).[4] In 1996, SAFI acquires the Universal Foods Corporation (UFC), and establishes the holding company NutriAsia, Inc. for the acquisition.[4]
In 2001, NutriAsia partnered with American company H.J. Heinz Company (now Kraft Heinz) to form the joint venture Heinz-UFC Philippines, Inc., which operated until 2006.[8]
In 2006, the company acquired Heinz's 50 percent stake in the joint venture and would be renamed as UFC Philippines, Inc.[9]
Also in 2006, NutriAsia acquired Singapore-based Del Monte Pacific Limited for the ownership of 85% stake with San Miguel Corporation, DMPL was a joint venture between SMC and NutriAsia until 2007.[10] In 2007, the company bought SMC's 25% stake in the joint venture and became a 100% ownership of DMPL.[11] Since then, Del Monte Pacific Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of NutriAsia.[12]
In 2009, the company's subsidiaries include Southeast Asia Food, Inc. (SAFI) and UFC Philippines, Inc. were absorbed into the holding company NutriAsia, Inc.[4]
In 2014, NutriAsia acquired Silver Swan Manufacturing Company, Inc. from the Suan family, and later renamed the company as First PGMC Enterprises, Inc.[4]
2018 labor strike
On June 4, 2018, 200 people composed of NutriAsia workers and supporters, under the leadership of an entity called Nagkakaisang Manggagawa ng (United Workers of) NutriAsia, staged a labor protest, forming a picket line at its factory in Marilao, Bulacan.
On February 23, 2018, reports from the Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said[13] that it had directed NutriAsia to "give regular employment to 914 persons" who had been hired under their contractors Alternative Network Resources Unlimited Multipurpose Cooperative; Serbiz Multi-Purpose Cooperative; and B-Mirk Enterprises Corp (B-Mirk), because their work arrangements were considered labor-only subcontracting, which is not allowed by the Philippines' labor code.[14] However, NutriAsia rejected this interpretation.[15][16][17]
