Chef Benny Vervaeck, International Technical Advisor for Bakery of Puratos Belgium, presented effective and efficient ways to bake quality goods.

Celebrating its 30th year of commitment to innovation in the country’s baking industry, Puratos Philippines recently held a celebratory event at SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier.

I think what we are the proudest of is that we work with all kinds of bakeries — from the smallest panaderia to quick-service restaurants and chain bakeries. We don’t discriminate

Present in the event were Bernard Poplimont, Puratos Southeast Asia regional director; Joe Sowers, regional vice president for US Wheat Associates; Bien Enrico Ah, president of Liberty Food Corporation; Chito Medina-Cue Jr., general manager; Jigger Avanceña, general manager of Trifoods; and Chi Bacobo, Office of Taguig City Mayor representative.

Winning masterpiece of Ma. Deca Erestain of Marriott Hotel during the 2nd Carat Chocolate Showpiece Competition. The event featured innovations such as a mobile innovation center called Move N’ Bake, Puratos My Bakery Mobile App, Tegral Soft’r Bread (100 percent bread premix for easy preparation of premium soft breads), Vivafil (ready-to-use fruit filling) and Chocolanté (real chocolate made with the highest quality beans and made from sustainable cacao beans in the country).

There was also the Marketplace composed of booths which featured different baked goods produced using Puratos’ innovative ingredients. Creative breads, cakes and chocolates were on display.

“For the past 30 years, we have worked closely with Filipino bakers to grow their business. I think what we are the proudest of is that we work with all kinds of bakeries — from the smallest panaderia to quick-service restaurants and chain bakeries. We don’t discriminate,” Poplimont said.

Puratos also started the Cacao Trace Program, a sustainable program that builds upon the Filipino farmers’ local knowledge and expertise by helping them increase the value of their cocoa.

PURATOS brand ambassador and chef RV Manabat provided ideas and tips on using chocolates in pastries and baking. “We noticed all over the place that farmers have a hard time and if we want them to grow bigger, to earn more revenue, we need to help them. We have now Chocolanté couverture chocolate under Cacao Trace and very soon Belcolade, which is real Belgian chocolate, will have a single origin from the Philippines and will be launched in 2019,” he added.

As a fitting culmination, a Chocolate Night was held for customers from the food service and industry sectors. Guest chocolatier chef Adang Hendra of Puratos Indonesia presented a triad of desserts using Chocolante Philippines couverture chocolate with 62 percent cacao mass.

Poplimont also gave an update on the Cacao Trace program and how just recently they have awarded chocolate bonus (incentives) to cacao farmers in Davao.

As part of the program, about six participating chefs from different hotels in Metro Manila were acknowledged for their outstanding entries to the 2nd Carat Chocolate Showpiece Competition. Ma. Deca Erestain of Marriott Hotel was awarded grand champion while Yaunnie Casiano of Shangri-La The Fort was first runner-up. Both received cash prizes from Puratos and gift packs from Sweetlink. In addition, the grand champion also received a Kenwood Chef XL mixer from Colombo Merchant Philippines.

Visit www.puratos.com to know more about Puratos Philippines and their innovations and www.cacaotrace.com for Cacao Trace Program.