{"id":8503,"date":"2026-04-22T18:25:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T10:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dynamic-silver-sheep.82-197-71-20.cpanel.site\/?p=8503"},"modified":"2026-04-22T18:25:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T10:25:30","slug":"sm-supermalls-empower-msmes-at-the-2026-dti-national-food-fair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dynamic-silver-sheep.82-197-71-20.cpanel.site\/?p=8503","title":{"rendered":"SM Supermalls Empower MSMEs at the 2026 DTI National Food Fair"},"content":{"rendered":"

SM Supermalls Empower MSMEs at the 2026 DTI National Food Fair\"\"<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

For many MSMEs, growth begins with access\u2014and the right platform can change everything.\u00a0\u201cIt all started at a DTI Trade Fair in SM, where we had the opportunity to present our product to Ms. Teresita Sy-Coson\u2014opening doors for us to become part of SM\u2019s Kultura and changing our journey.\u201d shared by\u00a0Alvin Causing of Project Beans Coffee<\/strong>. \u201cFrom a small start-up, we\u2019ve grown into a brand enjoyed nationwide and globally because of the right marketplace SM provided. Today, we\u2019re here not just to showcase our products, but to say thank you\u2014because SM didn\u2019t just give us space, they gave us a chance, and that made all the difference.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>This reflects the core of the DTI-SM collaboration: turning\u00a0opportunity into transformation<\/strong>, and\u00a0visibility into viability<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Mandaluyong City, Philippines<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 More than a showcase of Filipino flavors, the\u00a02026 DTI National Food Fair<\/strong>\u00a0proved to be a powerful engine for\u00a0entrepreneurship, innovation, and nation-building<\/strong>, as thousands of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) connected with wider markets at Megatrade Halls, SM Megamall from April 8\u201312.<\/p>\n

DTI Secretary Cristina Roque lead the official ribbon-cutting ceremony together with DTI Assistant Secretary Nylah Bautista and DOA Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr., marking the start of the five-day fair\u2014signaling a unified commitment to empower Filipino enterprises<\/em><\/p>\n

Backed by the strong partnership between the\u00a0Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0SM Supermalls<\/strong>, the five-day event transformed retail space into a\u00a0high-impact platform where local businesses don\u2019t just sell\u2014they scale<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A dynamic hub of Filipino entrepreneurship, innovation, and community comes to life at the National Food Fair\u2014hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry and supported by SM for MSMEs, an advocacy program of SM Supermalls\u2014held annually at the Megatrade Halls of SM Megamall.<\/em><\/p>\n

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A Platform Built for Growth<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beyond exposure, the National Food Fair serves as a\u00a0launchpad for scaling businesses<\/strong>\u2014combining DTI\u2019s development programs with SM Supermalls\u2019 nationwide retail reach.\u00a0\u201cFrom a small coffee shop, we\u2019ve grown into a manufacturing business, and platforms like the DTI National Food Fair at SM Megamall have helped accelerate that journey,\u201d said\u00a0King Del Rosario of Coffee and Mead Corporation<\/strong>. \u201cThe support, accessibility, and stronger sales show how SM provides MSMEs like us the right environment to grow.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Connecting Regions to the Nation<\/strong><\/p>\n

For regional entrepreneurs, access to national markets is often the biggest barrier\u2014one that the National Food Fair helps break.\u00a0\u201cThrough DTI trade fairs at SM Supermalls, we were able to bring our products from Bicol to a national market,\u201d shared\u00a0Larry Lee Ong of Orange Country Enterprises<\/strong>. \u201cIt opened doors to major buyers and long-term partnerships, helping us scale and grow\u2014proving how SM can transform regional businesses into national brands.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0By bridging regional producers to urban consumers, SM enables MSMEs to move from\u00a0local relevance to national competitiveness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

From Demand to Expansion<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the heart of the fair is a simple but powerful outcome: real demand.\u00a0\u201cDemand for our product is already higher than supply, and having a booth at the DTI National Food Fair in SM Megamall gives us the right mix of customers and exposure to sustain that growth,\u201d said\u00a0Alvin Samson of Easter Joy Rabbit Ventures<\/strong>. \u201cEvery time we\u2019re in SM, we sell out\u2014proving the strength of the platform in helping us grow faster and reach new markets.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0This demonstrates how\u00a0strategic marketplaces drive not just awareness\u2014but measurable business outcomes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Culture, Community, and Inclusive Growth<\/strong><\/p>\n

Beyond commerce, the fair highlights the role of MSMEs in preserving identity and creating livelihoods.\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re not just selling products\u2014we\u2019re sharing our culture,\u201d said\u00a0Sherly Biase of Basilio\u2019s Kini-ing Food Processing<\/strong>. \u201cThrough the DTI National Food Fair, we introduce Cordilleran cuisine, correct misconceptions, and create livelihood for our farmers. With SM, it\u2019s not just foot traffic\u2014it\u2019s the right market that helps us scale and connect to bigger opportunities.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0Here, MSMEs become more than businesses\u2014they become\u00a0drivers of cultural preservation and community development<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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A Shared Commitment to Nation-Building<\/strong><\/p>\n

The success of the 2026 DTI National Food Fair underscores the strength of a model built on collaboration:<\/p>\n