Despite a volatile global and macroeconomic landscape, Po-led Century Pacific Food Inc. (CNPF) reported an 11-percent growth in net income to ₱7.1 billion last year as tighter spending offset gross margin compression.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Monday, April 13, the firm said it saw gross margin pressure coming from normalizing input costs from a favorable 2024 cycle, leading to a 100-basis-point (bp) contraction to 25.1 percent.

To mitigate the impact on the bottom line, CNPF deliberately tightened operating expenses (opex). Hence, net profit margins stood at 8.5 percent, registering a moderate 10-bp year-on-year improvement.

Consolidated revenues amounted to ₱83.3 billion, reflecting a 10-percent year-on-year rise. This performance was carried by the resilient branded segment, which compensated for the soft performance of the group’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM) export sales.

Composed of marine, meat, milk, and other emerging segments, the branded segment comprises the majority of CNPF’s sales. During the year, the branded segment posted a volume-led increase of 13 percent versus the prior year on the back of the affordability, convenience, and nutritional relevance of its offerings.

“In our effort to balance short- and long-term growth, we made strategic decisions back in 2024 to invest in our brands while holding prices even up to 2025. Ultimately, this meant providing consumers with more accessible and nutritious food options, leading to double-digit volume growth in 2025,” said CNPF Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Richard S. Manapat.

Meanwhile, OEM exports, CNPF’s white label tuna and coconut manufacturing businesses, posted a muted two-percent year-on-year growth in 2025.

On top of a challenging base, headwinds pervaded the segment, from global trade uncertainty to an unfavorable commodity cycle. The segment was able to recover in the fourth quarter of 2025, posting double-digit year-on-year improvement, which offset the decline from the first nine months of the year.

CNPF saw healthy cash flows during the year, which allowed the company to invest ₱4.1 billion in capital expenditures (capex) allocated to capacity expansion and renewable energy (RE) initiatives such as solar and biomass capabilities.

According to Manapat, the results reflect the company’s commitment to delivering consistently—not just for shareholders, but for the Filipino families who rely on its products every day. In the Philippines, CNPF products are used in nine out of 10 households.

“Growth, for us, is not just a financial metric. It means keeping accessible and nutritious food on the table for more Filipino families. It means keeping our operations running for the 33,166 jobs that depend on us. That responsibility anchors everything we do,” he added.