Herbanext Laboratories, Inc., a Negros-based company manufacturing health food products and herbal supplements under the Daily Apple brand won second place in the Trendy Awards at the 8th International Food Exhibition (IFEX) of the Department of Trade and Industry – Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions. Held from May 12 – 14, 2011 at the SMX, the IFEX is the country’s premier annual showcase of Philippine food and beverages. Competing among 22 nominees, Herbanext’s Sweet Roselle Chips impressed a panel of judges that included culinary greats and well-known celebrities such as Nancy Reyes-Lumen, editor in chief of leading culinary publication Cook Magazine; Glenda Barreto of Via Mare; Claude Tayag of Bale Dutung; Margarita Fores of CIBO; Ige Ramos, food writer and designer; Cecil Zamora-Van Straten, lifestyle columnist of the Philippine Star; Raul Virtudazo, news anchor of DZBB; and Nora Daza, national culinary icon.
Accepting the Trendy trophy at the awarding ceremony is Ms. Ruby Cruz, managing director of Daily Apple Store, distributor of Herbanext products, flanked by Ms. Rosvi Gaetos (left), Executive Director of CITEM, organizer of the IFEX, and Felicitas Agoncillo-Reyes BOI Director (right).
The annual Trendy Awards is a search for local innovations in content and packaging of new food products and applications, as well as those that exemplify successful adaptation to consumer lifestyle and preferences, and readiness for global market requirements. Dubbed “flower power” at the award, Herbanext’s Sweet Roselle Chips is a healthy snack made from the calyxes of the Roselle plant, a member of the hibiscus family popularly used in traditional folk medicine in many countries for its very rich content of anthocyanins and health-benefitting phytochemicals. Sweet Roselle Chips is part of Daily Apple’s health food line that includes Roselle Tea, Red Roselle Juice Concentrate, and Hydrolean Slimming Drink. With its unique cranberry-like flavor and intense red color, Roselle presents interesting potential for expansion in culinary and confectionary uses. Another product from Herbanext, the Lemon Grass Herb Cooler, made it as semi-finalist, while its turmeric-flavored Banana Chips was a nominee.
Sweet Roselle and other Herbanext products are available at all outlets of the Daily Apple Store, a chain of stores selling health food and supplements with outlets in major malls. In Bacolod, Sweet Roselle may be found at the Daily Apple Store along Magsaysay Avenue and at the ANP Showroom. For more info, please call 4322234 or visit www.dailyapplestore.com
