January 9, 2009
Alliance Tuna to invest US$1.5 million in new seafood factory
Philippine tuna processor and exporter Alliance Tuna International, Inc. announced yesterday (January 8) that it will construct a US$1.5 million factory for smoked seafood products.
The announcement came a day after the company disclosed that it acquired New Zealand-based smoke seafood manufacturer Prime Foods.
Jonathan Dee, chief executive of Alliance Tuna, said factory is part of Prime Foods' plan to supply market requirements outside New Zealand.
The facility-- with a planned capacity of 2 tonnes a day--is to cut Prime Foods' labour costs because Philippine production costs are ten times cheaper in New Zealand, said Dee.
They have started scouting for a potential factory site, including Subic, General Santos City, and other export processing zones such as those in Cebu.
Dee said selection of plant site will hopefully be done in the first quarter and start building the facility in the second quarter. He said the plant should ideally be operational within six months.
Alliance Tuna is one of the leading canned tuna manufacturers in the Philippines. Its facilities are located in the southern part of the Philippines with a daily capacity output of 120 tonnes per day. Its products are currently exported to over 40 countries in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa and South America.
