By James A. Loyola San Miguel Pure Foods Co., Inc. is aiming to complete and operationalize its new manufacturing facility for ready-to-eat products in Santa Rosa, Laguna, by the first quarter of 2019. In a statement, the food and beverage unit of San Miguel Corp. said the new plant will address consumer demand for convenience and capture a larger chunk of this fast-growing segment. Once operational, the company said the plant will produce fully cooked viands and heat-and-serve meals that will cater growing consumer demand for convenient, nutritious meals differentiated by home-cooked taste, rich quality, and the highest levels of food safety. The plant and commissary will also cater to foodservice clients’ operational needs for high quality, healthy, and easy-to-prepare meals. It will also yield products for export in the ready-to-eat format. The facility, which will have a total area of 20,000 square meters, was recently granted incentives by the Department of Trade and Industry, through the Philippine Board of Investments. The new facility will also support the DTI’s Inclusive Business (IB) program, through direct employment of locals and partnership programs with local businesses, farmers, and animal growers, resulting in an integrated supply chain.