A Dutch social enterprise group is backing the attempt of the Labo Progressive Multi-purpose Cooperative (LPMPC) to make its pineapple products competitive.

SharePeople, a non-government organization, recently sent marketing expert Rik Bakker to visit LPMPC in the company of representatives from the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).

Bakker went to Malasigui, Camarines Norte to consult with coop farmers on how SharePeople could help make the Queen pineapple variety and its byproducts flood the market.

LPMPC and the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Unit 5 (DA RFU 5) are the implementors of the project entitled “Enhancing Competitiveness of the Queen Pineapple in the Bicol Region (Phase II)” coordinated by BAR and funded under the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani-High Value Commercial Crops (GMA-HVCC) Program.

SharePeople, a Dutch social enterprise seeking to improve and develop of small and medium enterprises and non-government organizations (NGOs) in developing countries like the Philippines, sent Bakker to map out plans to make the pineapple products get a market niche.

“We welcome this support that we are getting from SharePeople Netherlands with so much enthusiasm. We are very thankful that with their assistance, we will be able to improve even more our products for them to be more competitive in the market,” said LPMPC general manager Mario Esposo.

“Right now, we have the Queench natural pineapple juice and dried pineapple candies for our products,” he added.

SharePeople aims to increase the profitability of the cooperative by capitalizing on LPMPC’s portfolio of products through a market-oriented commercialization.

“Our focus will be on strategy and marketing. Though finance and production are also key parameters of ‘profitability,’ these will not be touched upon,” said Bakker.

“The 3 Ps, otherwise known as the triple concept of SharePeople, representing People, Planet and Profit will be used as a guiding principle in this venture,” he added.

“Guarding the ecological and social performance is of equal importance and should not be neglected while improving the financial performance of the products,” Bakker said.

Representatives from the Department of Trade and Industry Regional Field Unit 5 (DTI RFU 5), GMA HVCC 5) and the Advocates of Philippine Fair Trade (APFT) were also present during the meeting.

A commercialization roadmap, a strategic review, and commercialization tools are the expected deliverables from this project.