CARMEN’S Best, a local Filipino gourmet ice cream brand, recently entered into a partnership with cloud services provider Cloud4C, a premier cloud services provider, to help improve its operations and address critical needs in the dairy business and is seen as a strategic move to leverage the power of cloud technology.
This investment in technology will be a key enabler to drive rapid business expansion and growth, leading to more Filipinos having access to 100-percent fresh, 100 percent local dairy and ice cream products.
MPAV’s Strategic Investment in Carmen’s Best: A Game-Changer in the Dairy Sector
Metro Pacific Agro Ventures (MPAV), in its pursuit of strategic growth in the dairy industry, recently
acquired Carmen’s Best. This acquisition marks a milestone for MPAV and reaffirms its commitment to
delivering high-quality dairy and ice cream products. The alliance of Carmen’s Best and MPAV sets the
stage for groundbreaking innovations and expertise, promising to set new benchmarks in the dairy sector.
“Innovation is a key pillar in our business. We are passionate about delivering the very best in 100-percent
fresh, 100 percent local dairy and ice cream products to the Filipino consumer. We believe that fresh is always best, and the Filipino consumer deserves nothing less than fresh. Innovation, however, is not just
applicable to the products and the recipes we develop. Equally important is the role that innovation will
play in improving our processes – making us more efficient while staying true to our no shortcuts culture
and understanding our customers better. We are confident that enabling ourselves with the right
technology will allow us to deliver the innovations that will matter to our customers and partners,”
according to Jovy Hernandez, President and CEO of Metro Pacific Agro Ventures (MPAV).
Technological Evolution in Dairy Farming
The dairy industry has witnessed a paradigm shift with the integration of technology. Automation, data
analytics, and cloud computing are reshaping various facets of dairy farming, from production and
distribution to quality control and customer engagement. In collaboration with Israel’s LR Group, MPAV
is investing PHP2 billion to establish a state-of-the-art dairy facility in Bay, Laguna, with operations set to
commence in 2025-2026.
“Our cloud solutions are not just about enhancing business operations; they’re about nurturing innovation. Together with Carmen’s Best, we are writing a new chapter in the industrialization of
applications, where technology and tradition come together to create something truly exceptional,”
emphasized Edler Panlilio, Cloud4C Philippines President and CEO.
Addressing Critical Business Needs in the Dairy Industry
The partnership between Carmen’s Best and Cloud4C aims to address critical business needs within the
dairy industry. This includes streamlining supply chain operations, ensuring product traceability, and
optimizing distribution channels. Carmen’s Best recognizes the challenges of adopting cloud technology but is committed to reaping the benefits, including improved data security, cost efficiency, and agility in
adapting to market changes.
Carmen’s Best and Cloud4C are poised to set new standards in the dairy industry by harnessing the
power of cloud technology to deliver top-notch products and customer experiences.
Carmen’s Best Vision: Tech as an Enabler for Growth
Carmen’s Best mission is to bring out the highest of joys through the BEST in milk, by offering 100%
fresh, 100 percent Filipino dairy products. The company also aims to increase local milk production to be able to meet demand and encourage more Filipinos consumer fresh dairy products. But beyond making these products available, the mission extends to creating an inclusive dairy model that supports partner-
farmers, collaborates with the government, academe, and local communities to uplift the dairy industry
as a whole. Just this year, Carmen’s Best has doubled its ice cream revenues, and with all the plans
driving its vision, is now positioned for faster paced growth in the coming years.
SAP, an integral part of Carmen’s Best operations, enables real-time monitoring of sales, enhanced inventory management, and agile decision-making. This technology empowers Carmen’s Best to meet growing demands, support local farmers, and drive operational excellence.
With SAP in place, Carmen’s Best now can monitor sales daily. This means that the company can track
and analyze sales performance in real-time, allowing for a more agile and responsive approach to
market dynamics. This daily monitoring enables the identification of trends, patterns, and fluctuations,
allowing the company to make informed decisions promptly.
The SAP implementation has significantly elevated Carmen’s Best’s ability to manage its customer relationships effectively. The platform facilitates a centralized and integrated customer management system, where relevant information about customers, their preferences, and purchasing behaviors is readily accessible. This leads to more personalized interactions, targeted marketing strategies, and
ultimately, enhanced customer satisfaction.
The integration of SAP S/4 HANA on SAP RISE has streamlined processes related to sales monitoring and customer management. By leveraging the capabilities of SAP S/4 HANA, Carmen’s Best can efficiently handle large volumes of sales data and customer information.
Automation of routine tasks, data entry, and reporting not only reduces manual workload but
also minimizes the likelihood of errors.
(MAIN PHOTO CAPTION: (L-R) Reginald Gripal, Chief Finance Officer, Metro Pacific Agro Ventures; Toby
Gatchalian, Chief Commercial Officer, Metro Pacific Agro Ventures; Edler Panlilio, Chief Executive Officer, Cloud4C Philippines; Jovy Hernandez, President and CEO, Metro Pacific Agro Ventures; Eric Ebro, Chief Operating Officer, The Laguna Creamery, Inc.; and Madhav Rao, Chief Executive Officer of Cloud4C Digital Services)