SFA-AGR-191-08

NY PCG PRESENTS PHILIPPINE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE’S PLAQUE OF APPRECIATION TO TARGET SOURCING SERVICES

27 March 2008 -Consul General Cecilia B. Rebong represented the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Arthur Yap in a brief ceremony at the offices of Target Corporation, to present a Plaque of Appreciation to Ms. Ellen Tansey, Executive Vice President of Target Sourcing Services / AMC for their support for non-food agriculture-based products made in the Philippines.

Target Sourcing Services has permanent offices in forty countries, including the Philippines.  Ms. Tansey gave a brief introduction about their company.  In the sourcing end, they seek to achieve “global balance”, developing suppliers from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, India, Pakistan, and other parts of the world. Ted Taylor, Vice President of Target Sourcing Global Operations, emphasized the emerging thrust of Target towards sustainable, organic and natural products. The company created a room featuring “natural craft industries”, mainly accessories and houseware using natural materials.  The Consul General was happy to note that about 60% of the products in the room were from the Philippines.  Ms. Kirstin Rauhauser, an Account Manager who had just returned from Cebu, remarked that Philippine products always excite their buyers as these would often feature something “crazy” and unique from “the Italy of Asia”.

Product presentations were made by  Viviendo Philippines (Health and Beauty Products from Virgin Coconut Oil); Oriental Synergies (Fruit wines) and Gracias Foods (Dried Fruit snacks).

Mr. Taylor commented that all these goods will be part of their “natural crafts industries” room, which they will present to the company in April, to help define the term “natural” for Target, and set the direction for the sourcing arm of the company for years to come.  END

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