At Aboitiz Foods, we see Asia not only as a key market but as the heart of the industry’s future growth. As one of Asia’s largest feed and animal nutrition producers, we are uniquely positioned to meet these evolving demands through our mill-to-meal advantage—an integrated value chain that spans trading, feed production, specialty nutrition, and food. By being present at every step of the food value chain, we ensure efficiency, quality, and sustainability in everything we do.
Business Chief Executive Officer, Agribusiness
Aboitiz Foods
The Philippines-based Aboitiz Group is one of Asia’s largest conglomerates operating in many sectors. Aboitiz Foods, the group’s food and agribusiness subsidiary, operates in 8 countries and was recently announced as the umbrella company of Pilmico and Gold Coin, which attract attention with their investments in the animal feed sector.
Eric Nojac, Aboitiz Foods’ Business Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Agribusiness, says that this new umbrella company, formed following Pilmico’s acquisition of Gold Coin, one of the region’s leading feed producers, represents the evolution of a cherished legacy that has nourished communities from mill to meal for generations.
We spoke to Business CEO Eric Nojac about the strong presence of this key group, particularly Aboitiz Foods, in the Asia Pacific market, along with its ambitions, the potential of the market and the recently completed investments of Pilmico and Gold Coin. The details are in our interview.
Dear Mr. Nojac, first of all, could you give our readers an overview of Aboitiz Group and Aboitiz Foods? What can you tell us about your subsidiaries, expertise, and the markets you cater to?
The Aboitiz Group is one of the Philippines’ most diversified conglomerates in Asia, with a rich history spanning over a century. Aboitiz’s business portfolio includes power, banking and financial services, infrastructure, land, and food. Guided by our shared purpose of driving change for a better world, the group is committed to sustainability, innovation, and advancing communities.
Aboitiz Foods is the food and agribusiness company of the Aboitiz Group, driven by our massive transformative purpose: “Sustainably Feeding Asia’s Growth from Mill to Meal”. As one of Asia’s largest privately-owned food and agribusiness companies, we operate in eight countries: the Philippines, Singapore, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Brunei.
Through our subsidiaries Pilmico and Gold Coin, we integrate the value chain spanning trading, feeds, specialty nutrition, and food production. By leveraging world-class technology and expertise, we deliver high-quality products and services that cater to the evolving needs of livestock, poultry, swine, aquaculture, pet, and food industries.
Aboitiz Foods is deeply committed to sustainable growth, creating value for our customers, and helping nourish communities across Asia. With our brand promise, “Together, We Nourish the Future”, we aim to advance business and communities while contributing to the region’s food security and agricultural development.
Aboitiz Foods was recently announced as the umbrella company of Gold Coin and Pilmico. What was the strategic reason behind the decision to merge Gold Coin and Pilmico under Aboitiz Foods? What advantages does this merger offer you and your customers?
Pilmico, the food and agribusiness subsidiary of the Aboitiz Group, acquired Gold Coin Management Holdings Ltd. in 2018. Gold Coin is a leading player in the animal feeds sector in the Asia Pacific region. Since the acquisition, there has been no unifying identity representing both Pilmico and Gold Coin. That is why we came up with “Aboitiz Foods”, a new name that represents the unity of the two entities while also paying homage to the 100-year-old legacy of the Aboitiz Group.
This strategic decision signifies more than just a new logo or tagline; it represents the evolution of a cherished legacy that has nourished communities from mill to meal for generations.
Asia is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world in terms of feed and animal production, and you are one of the largest producers in the market. How do you assess the position of your region in the global feed industry and livestock farming?
Asia holds a pivotal position in the global feed industry and livestock farming, driven by rapid economic growth, increasing urbanization, and a rising demand for protein and high-quality nutrition. The region accounts for a significant share of global feed production, supported by its robust aquaculture, poultry, swine and livestock industries.
At Aboitiz Foods, we see Asia not only as a key market but as the heart of the industry’s future growth. As one of Asia’s largest feed and animal nutrition producers, we are uniquely positioned to meet these evolving demands through our mill-to-meal advantage—an integrated value chain that spans trading, feed production, specialty nutrition, and food. By being present at every step of the food value chain, we ensure efficiency, quality, and sustainability in everything we do.
Guided by our purpose of “Sustainably Feeding Asia’s Growth from Mill to Meal”, we are committed to driving innovation and creating value for our customers while contributing to food security across the region. Our investments in advanced technology, state-of-the-art feed mills, and R&D reflect our dedication to quality practices and operational excellence. These initiatives help shape a resilient, thriving, and sustainable feed and livestock ecosystem across Asia.
With operations in eight countries, I see ourselves as one of the leading players in the feed industry. We leverage cutting-edge technology and continuously enhance our operational efficiency, all while advancing businesses and communities.
As Aboitiz Foods, you recently finalised very important investments. Your feed mill in Vietnam and Gold Coin’s fifth plant in China are two of them. Considering these investments, can we assume that you have important expectations for the future of your region?
Our recent investments, including the state-of-the-art feed mill in Vietnam and Gold Coin’s fifth plant in China, reflect our confidence in Asia’s potential as a dynamic and fast-growing region for feed and animal nutrition. These facilities are strategic milestones in our commitment to sustainably feeding Asia’s growth, enabling us to better serve our customers and communities.
Our investment in Vietnam, for example, is one of the largest feed mills in our portfolio, designed to support the growing demand for high-quality livestock feeds in the region. Similarly, Gold Coin’s fifth plant in China strengthens our ability to cater to the world’s most significant feed markets with advanced production capabilities and an emphasis on quality.
These projects are part of our broader strategy, which allows us to integrate the value chain and provide sustainable, innovative, and efficient solutions across all stages of food production.
Looking ahead, we remain confident in Asia’s potential and deeply committed to strengthening food security and driving agricultural progress across the region. These investments reflect our long-term vision of establishing Aboitiz Foods as a trusted partner in sustainably nourishing Asia’s future and becoming an integrated regional food and agribusiness company.
What did you aim to achieve with these investments? How will they affect your position in the Asian market and in these countries?
With these investments, we aim to strengthen our position as a leading integrated food and agribusiness company in Asia by increasing our total production capacity, which now stands at 4 million metric tons, to meet the growing market demand. The Long An Feed Mill in Vietnam and the Yunnan Feed Mill in China enable us to better serve our customers by addressing their diverse livestock needs with tailored solutions while supporting the sustainable growth of local industries.
In addition, these state-of-the-art facilities integrate advanced technologies that ensure consistent quality and reliability, establishing them as benchmarks for excellence in feed manufacturing across Asia. By expanding our capacity and enhancing operational efficiency, we remain committed to creating value for our customers and building long-term partnerships that drive success for both their businesses and the region’s agricultural sector.
Could you tell us a little bit about the technological infrastructure, the investment amount and the production capacity of your new feed mills?
Our new feed mills in Vietnam and China exemplify Aboitiz Foods’ commitment to supporting the agribusiness sector in Asia through innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable practices.
In Vietnam, the Gold Coin Long An Feed Mill strengthens our ability to serve the rapidly growing livestock industry in the southern region. With an annual production capacity of 300,000 metric tons, this facility is equipped with advanced feed production technology. It allows us to consolidate high-quality feed production, achieve economies of scale, and ensure a consistent supply for our customers. This investment reflects our confidence in the Vietnamese market and our dedication to supporting local livestock stakeholders with efficient, innovative, and sustainable solutions.
In China, the Gold Coin Yunnan Feed Mill, a $23.1 million investment, stands as the largest comprehensive feed mill in Yunnan Province. With an annual capacity of 500,000 metric tons, the facility produces a wide range of species-specific feeds, including poultry, swine, aqua, ruminants, and premixes. Cutting-edge automation systems—such as centralized controls, precision grinding, and automatic trace element addition—ensure consistent quality, high efficiency, and enhanced nutritional value across all products. The mill’s design also prioritizes biosecurity and cross-contamination prevention, supporting the health and safety of livestock and ensuring high standards for feed production.
Both facilities are integral to our goal of becoming an integrated regional food and agribusiness company, reinforcing Aboitiz Foods’ position as a trusted partner in sustainably feeding Asia’s growth from mill to meal.
Do you have any new investment plans and new market targets for your feed activities?
In line with our vision of becoming an integrated regional food and agribusiness company, we have planned additional investments in our feed and farm operations across Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. These initiatives are designed to support our organic growth while we actively explore external growth opportunities to further strengthen our position in the region.
