A hundred years is a significant milestone for Del Monte Philippines—says its President and Chief Operating Officer Luis Alejandro.
But beyond the numbers, what matters most is the impact—the lives uplifted and communities strengthened along the way, particularly the farmers who have stood alongside the company every step of the way.
For Luis, this is an accomplishment he is very proud of.
"Ang personal achievement po na I'm very proud of is the number of families that we have helped for generations upon generations," he shared with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in an exclusive interview on November 11, 2025.
The conversation took place during Del Monte’s centennial celebration press event at its Bonifacio Global City office in Taguig.
Reflecting on other milestones, Luis added, "The other achievement that we can be proud of is how we have been part of nation building.
"Because as you know, we're not just an agricultural company, but more important is, we're engaged in community service... in the communities that we serve.
"And of course, our achievement is, we have fresh pineapple which is the leader in the Asia-Pacific region today.
"And we have solid market shares in the categories we are competing or where we are present, which tells me that really people are so loyal...
"And people are really so happy with how Del Monte products have really enriched their lives and made them happy, made their families happy, made their children happy."
FREE HOUSING, EDUCATION, AND MORE FOR DEL MONTE FARMERS
This milestone was highlighted even further when Karen Davila featured stories from Del Monte employees in her vlog, uploaded on YouTube last November 17, 2025.
Among those she interviewed was Jeffrey, a pineapple planter who has been farming for Del Monte for more than seven years.
Grateful for the company's support and benefits, Jeffrey told Karen, "Medyo gumanda ang aming buhay."
He continued, "Libre kami ng ospital, Ma'am, bahay, kuryente, tubig.
"At saka yung school bus sa aming mga anak, hatid-kuha dun. Yung benepisyo nila, Ma'am. is talagang malaking tulong ma'am."
Explaining the reason behind these benefits and programs, Luis emphasized that farmers have worked with Del Monte for generations, and these initiatives have enabled their families to thrive, with children becoming professionals.
Luis said, "We always make sure that the planters are also one of the highest paid among the laborers because if they make a mistake, right? That's the end of the pineapple plant."
He added, "Yung magsasaka sa amin, generations upon generations iyan. Meron diyan makikita mo, two generations na. And they're important because farming here is really by the hand.
"We make sure that we take care of our farmers, ano. We provide them free housing, we provide them free education for their children, free electricity.
"And we have a hospital there. So they have nothing to fear as far as their lives are concerned.
"And at the end of the day, you will find that a lot of these farmers are able to send their children to school, to college.
"They are engineers, they are doctors. And that is our pride because it really elevates the lives of these people.
"But neverthless, we take care of them because without the farmers, there's no pineapple, there's no Del Monte."
SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS
During the event, the company also underscored its commitment to sustainability—from caring for the land to achieving carbon neutrality and investing in its people.
"If we don’t take care of the land, there will be no agriculture in the future" he explained.
"That’s why soil management is critical. We make sure the soil is healthy and protected from erosion."
He added that sustainability also means investing in people.
"We nurture generations of farmers because they sustain our future.
"And we focus on our consumers—keeping them happy with quality products so they continue to trust us and pass that trust on to future generations."
Innovation plays a key role in these efforts.
"We’ve embraced AI, precision farming, analytics, and even drone technology to manage large tracts of land in Bukidnon more efficiently."
Del Monte Philippines also takes pride in being carbon neutral, a rare achievement in the industry.
"Being carbon neutral means actively participating in climate action—reducing emissions, managing waste, and protecting the environment.
"Not many companies have achieved this, and I’m proud our team delivered this milestone,” he said.
Looking ahead, Luis reassured consumers: "To the consumers I just want to reassure you that Del Monte will be here for the next 100 years.
"I may not be here, but definitely what we have put up and secured in the first 100 years I believe will continue to work for the next one.
"So rest assured that the products are going to be there, the fresh produce are going to be there, and we will continue to contribute to the betterment of Filipino lives in Bukidnon. And also our contribution to nation building will continue."
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION
Del Monte Philippines is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a year-long campaign themed “Kaayo,” which means “goodness” in Filipino.
It focuses on nourishment, family, community, and sustainability, blending nostalgia with modern collaborations and social impact initiatives.
It also introduces a refreshed packaging design featuring vibrant updates in its iconic red, yellow, and green colors across products like canned fruits, sauces, and juices—symbolizing a century of trust and innovation.
Complementing this is the Kaayo film, a heartfelt tribute that showcases generations of Filipino families and highlights the company’s commitment to sustainable farming practices.
To reward its loyal customers,100 lucky families of four get the chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to Hong Kong Disneyland. To join, participants simply need to purchase qualifying sauce packs and scan the QR codes for a shot at this magical getaway.
Del Monte Philippines has also teamed up with Uniqlo to launch limited-edition UTMe! pieces—Uniqlo’s customizable line—featuring playful designs inspired by Del Monte’s signature colors and motifs, such as pineapples, fruits, and “Kaayo” slogans.
Prices start at around PHP590 for shirts. Adding to the experience, Uniqlo Coffee outlets are offering exclusive Del Monte-themed drinks, including pineapple-infused lattes.
In another exciting collaboration, Del Monte partnered with Auro Chocolates to introduce Pineapple Crunch—freeze-dried golden pineapple chunks coated in Auro’s single-origin white chocolate sourced from Davao farms.
Auro Café BGC is also serving a limited-edition pineapple-infused menu (think pineapple hot chocolate and fruit salads) until December 7, 2025.
Finally, it launched the “Drink Good, Do Good” Smoothie Partnership with Jamba Juice.
For every purchase of the Aloha Pineapple Smoothie or Piña Colada Refresher—both featuring Del Monte pineapple—PHP5 will be donated to farmer-aid programs.
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