Univet Nutrition and Animal Healthcare Company, Inc. (UNAHCO) secures Marketing Company of the Year at 44th The Agora Awards, places an agribusiness company at the top of one of the most prestigious marketing programs that have been running for a long time in the country.
Organizers presented the award at the Grand Ballroom of Winford Resort Manila on February 11, citing the company’s integration of marketing and field operations during years of hardship in the agricultural sector.
Ricardo C. Alba, UNAHCO’s president and chief operating officer, says the honor confirms the company’s direction in integrating marketing and supply to farmers and industrial partners.
“The recognition of UNAHCO’s Agora is a confirmation of how we have transformed marketing into a national service platform – helping to protect farmers’ lives and sustain food security,” said Mr. Alba told. BusinessWorld.
From 2021 to 2023, the agricultural sector is facing extreme pressures from African Swine Fever, bird flu, adverse weather conditions and global inflation related to the war in Ukraine. At this time, UNAHCO said it maintains production and distribution driven by multi-product collaboration and regional production.
“In an industry created by instability, marketing becomes a way of stability if it is linked to performance,” he said. “It reinforces the idea that good marketing can do more than sell – it can help feed the nation, by keeping farmers productive, confident and shock-proof.”
“Our goal has always been to be present aagapai to farmers in the Philippines, and the award shows that our marketing is not just about sending messages; it’s about solving farmers’ real problems through education, grassroots support, and science-backed solutions, especially in times of crisis,” added Mr. Alba.
From animal health to integrated agribusiness
UNAHCO traces its beginnings to 1966, when it was founded as Univet to support food production by strengthening animal health among Filipino farmers. The company later expanded into animal feed through brands such as Sarimanok and Thunderbird, feeding livestock and poultry farmers across the country.
In 2008, the company consolidated its operations under the name Univet Nutrition and Animal Healthcare Company.
Today, UNAHCO operates 14 business units covering parts of the agri-food chain, from feed processing to animal health and crop protection. Each type targets certain sectors of agriculture.
Pigrolac, for example, specializes in pig nutrition and serves mainly backyard pig farmers through high-quality feed systems and farm technical services. Sarimanok supports poultry farming, while Thunderbird takes care of food for game birds.
Univet provides over-the-counter veterinary medicines to commercial and backyard breeders, while Doggiessentials targets the companion animal market. UNAHCO’s Animal Health Division manages veterinary products such as Vetracin, Jectran and Bexan.
Recently, the company has also ventured into crop protection products, including herbicides, molluscicides, fungicides and insecticides, aimed at helping plant growers protect and increase yields.
UNAHCO claims that all its facilities hold International Organization for Standardization and Halal certification. It also reports that its plants comply with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points standards.
Currently, the company operates four company plants and works with 16 paid partners. Its distribution network includes more than 23,000 dealers and about 14,000 operational stores across the country.
UNAHCO employs 442 workers and is ranked 119 by 2024 Top 1,000 companies in the Philippines. It is also ranked as the second largest food processor in the country, producing nearly 2 million bags of feed per month.
The company also operates as the animal nutrition and health care division of United Laboratories, Inc. (UNILAB), which is described as the leading pharmaceutical company in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
Agora Awards
Programs are expanding across the country
Much of UNAHCO’s work is focused on smallholder farmers, who account for 70% of the country’s livestock producers. The company said it works directly with backyard pig farmers with feed, animal supplies and technical systems, supported by field experts.
In 2023, as the livestock and poultry industry recovers from disease outbreaks and hurricanes, UNAHCO expands its education and outreach activities. Its “Usapang Baboy” program holds conferences across the country, bringing together technical knowledge and advice for backyard hograisers.
During Agrilink 2023, UNAHCO engaged more than 17,000 visitors and 2,000 trade partners, further expanding its network in the agricultural industry.
UNAHCO is strengthening immunization and safety efforts through its “Singko Kasado” program. For poultry producers, the “Bird Flu-Free Nation” program provides educational and biosecurity resources to farms in high-risk areas.
In March 2023, UNAHCO launched the first mobile laboratory for small farms to bring diagnostic services to people who often lack access to laboratory tests. The service allows farmers to receive tests on or near the farm, helping them to detect animal health problems early.
UNAHCO’s Sarimanok product has partnered with GMA Network for a television series Agripreneur. The 12-episode show features chicken and duck farmers and presents their farm practices and livelihood stories to a national audience.
Other programs included the Kaagapay campaign during the violence, which provides practical items to vendors and farm partners, and Thunderbird’s social programs such as “Passion of the Filipino Nation” and “.Tagumpay.”
Mr. Alba shared that, “Our campaigns and programs are designed to translate into action – training, diagnostics, farm support – so that the participants get value, not just hear claims.”
He added that the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts are focused on trust and long-term relationships.
“Our approach works because the impact is not a side effect. Scholarships, disaster response, and farmer support programs build credibility – so marketing becomes more reliable, effective, and sustainable,” explained Mr. Alba.
Beyond company-led initiatives, UNAHCO works with local government units in training and restructuring. Mr. Alba described this relationship as collaborative problem-solving, where the company and farming communities face production risks together rather than using one-way campaigns.
UNAHCO also collaborates with global nutrition and animal health companies such as Provimi, Trouw Nutrition, Alltech, DSM, and Novus. The company adapts research-based systems from these partners to local farm conditions.
“We continue to translate global innovation into practical results through partnerships with programs like Precision Animal Nutrition,” he shared.
Recognition is related to execution
UNAHCO said the Agora Award validates a strategy that links marketing to local operations. The company believes that their programs translate into farmer involvement and technical support rather than campaigns focused solely on product visibility.
“The award reinforces our confidence in the path we are already committed to: science, execution, and purpose,” said Mr. Alba. “Agora’s win is proof that marketing can be the muscle of an organization — linked to performance, problem response, and growth — not just communications.”
After the recognition, UNAHCO says it plans to expand farmer-focused platforms and expand the use of nutrition technology. The company also says it will keep marketing relevant to operations and issues.
“We will end up balancing programs that protect the farmer’s profit and production, because livelihood security ultimately supports national food stability,” said Mr. Alba.
The Agora Awards is considered the country’s most prestigious marketing program, honoring work that demonstrates strategic and measurable impact on Filipino brands and businesses. Organized by the Philippine Marketing Association, the awards highlight campaigns and organizations that deliver results and respond to market needs.
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