Century Pacific Food Inc. is eyeing a double-digit target in revenue and profit amid the rising global trade tension. Christopher Po, Executive Chairman of Century Pacific, said earlier this week at the annual stockholders meeting that the company has earmarked PHP 4 billion (USD 71.01 million) to PHP 5 billion (USD 88.76 million) in capital expenditure this year to support the growth of its business segments, including for tuna. Century Pacific is one of the largest producers of canned tuna in the domestic market under the Century Tuna brand and a leading exporter of OEM tuna products to also the US.

Po asserted that the extra 10 percent tariffs on Filipino products, imposed by US President Donald Trump in April, have affected the company’s tuna business. He expects a positive outcome at the end of the 90-day temporary pause on tariffs, ending on July 9. However, Century Pacific is adopting a cautiously optimistic stance on its growth prospects amid commodity volatility, shifting trade dynamics, and the potential impact of new US tariffs, reported Filipino news sites. Century Pacific reported a revenue of PHP 19.94 billion (USD 353.96 million), up ten percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025. Net income rose by 11 percent to PHP 1.91 billion (USD 33.90 million).

Japanese seafood company Maruha Nichiro has entered the frozen pet food business, eyeing on the prospects for this segment. Eight new products with human-grade ingredients for dogs and cats, including some made from skipjack, will enter the Japanese market through Maruha Nichiro’s subsidiary AIXA Corporation, starting July 1. The company, until now, has been involved in the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) production of pet food for the overseas market, mainly the EU and the US. A statement from Maruho Nichiro read: “We will accelerate this process, consolidate the knowledge we have accumulated, to develop steadily.”

According to Maruha Nichiro, the domestic pet food market hit close to JPY 490 billion (USD 3.4 billion) in 2024, and will near approximately JPY 520 billion (USD 3.61 billion) in 2027. Moreover, the demand is expected to grow. “As pets have become family members, pet-related services have rapidly become more diverse and sophisticated.” Atuna reported earlier this year that Japan was the second-largest buyer of Thai pet food in 2024. Japanese buyers purchased 37,836 M/T of feed for their animals last year, a 37 percent increase YoY.

US leading tuna company StarKist kick-started the summer season with its ‘StarKist Summer’ campaign. The brand has roped in social media influencers to promote its tuna, chicken, and salmon pouches to “inspire an energetic, on-the-go lifestyle powered by ready-to-eat protein,” the company said in a statement. Influencers will share “their favorite pouch flavors, creative snack and meal ideas for summer, and how StarKist fits into their summer wellness, fitness, and travel lifestyles.”

StarKist also invites its consumers to join a social media contest by sharing stories of themselves “summering” with a StarKist pouch while on a hike or out swimming. By posting it under the hashtag #StarKistSummerSweepstakes and tagging StarKist, they make a chance to win USD 2,500. The contest will run till July 31.