From Fields to Filipino Homes: How a Century of Nourishment Built a Nation

For generations, food has brought Filipinos together, from the hearty caldereta shared during reunions to the fruit salad served at Noche Buena. At the heart of these celebrations lies a story that began in Bukidnon a hundred years ago, one of land, people, and the kind of goodness that endures.

As Del Monte Philippines, a leading food and beverage company, marks its 100th year in 2026, it celebrates not just its legacy as a household name, but as a force for Nourishing Goodness and Nation-Building, caring for the land, empowering people, and nourishing generations with food and beverages that are both good and good for you.

Nourishing the Land

For a century, Del Monte has cultivated more than 30,000 hectares of farmland in Bukidnon, growing not just pineapples but a legacy of sustainability and stewardship.

Through decades of care, its plantation has achieved carbon-negative status, with over 700,000 trees planted, sustainable water recycling, and soil-conservation initiatives that ensure the land thrives for the generations ahead.

These efforts reflect Del Monte’s belief that real nourishment starts at the source when the land is cared for, everything it grows can nourish goodness.

Nourishing People and Communities

Behind every pineapple are the 24,000 men and women who make up the Del Monte family: generations of farmers and workers who have called Bukidnon home. Beyond livelihoods, Del Monte has created a self-sustaining community complete with free housing, schools, a hospital, and recreational spaces for employees and their families.

Through the Del Monte Foundation, this culture of care extends beyond the plantation, reaching over 200,000 people across more than 100 barangays. Even before the establishment of Del Monte Foundation, DMPI has opened and operated eight schools, nurturing young minds and shaping future generations. Since its inauguration in 1994, its livelihood training programs have graduated 17,000 individuals.

The Foundation’s School Development Program has built 17 classrooms, aided 204 schools, and donated 8,000 chairs and provided learning kits to 117 pre-schools and day care centers.

The Foundation’s Scholarship Program has produced over 1,700 high school and college graduates, and continues to support 300 scholars today, a living testament to how Del Monte’s success is rooted in shared growth.

Nourishing Filipino Homes for 100 Years

For a century, Del Monte has been part of Filipino homes, from the 100% Pineapple Juice with PiñaPhyto5 that boosts wellness to Tomato Sauce with LycoNutrients enriched with vitamins A, C, and Iodine, and Pineapple Tidbits and Slices rich in Vitamin C and fiber.

Del Monte’s story of nourishment continues to evolve as it explores new ways to bring goodness into everyday life. The company’s move into dairy and snacks through innovations like Mr. Milk and Potato Crisp extends its long-standing commitment to quality, nutrition, and taste to even more moments in the day. With the launch of Fruity Zing, Del Monte offers a refreshing new way for Filipinos to enjoy affordable, flavorful, and energizing drinks, blending the brand’s heritage of nourishment with the joy of modern refreshment.

And through Del Monte Kitchenomics, what started as a beloved TV show has evolved into a vibrant online community that continues to inspire Filipino home cooks to make every meal special.

A Century of Celebration and Collaboration

To mark this milestone, Del Monte introduces its Centennial Packaging Refresh, a bold and vibrant look symbolizing 100 years of trust, innovation, and goodness.

The brand also celebrates through partnerships that embody the same Filipino spirit of Kaayo — the goodness that uplifts and connects:

• Disney-themed Del Monte Spaghetti Sauce — adding a touch of magic to Filipino homes with a heartwarming family promo that rewards 100 lucky households with all-expense-paid trips for four to Hong Kong Disneyland, celebrating family bonding over the nation’s most loved spaghetti moments.
  
• Uniqlo x Del Monte “Wear the Goodness” — a collaboration that brings “Kaayo” to life through UTMe! shirts and tote bags inspired by Del Monte’s iconic red, yellow, and green colors. Available from Nov 21, 2025 to May 31, 2026, the collection can be found in select stores across Mega Manila (MOA, Glorietta, Megamall, Alabang, BGC, Aura, Greenhills, Nuvali) as well as Cebu, Davao and CDO.

Also available, exclusive Uniqlo x Del Monte Coffee drinks will be sold exclusively at Uniqlo Coffee stores at Uniqlo Manila and MOA from November 21-30,2025.

• Auro Chocolate x Del Monte Pineapple Crunch — a proudly Filipino collaboration featuring freeze-dried golden pineapples coated in Auro’s signature single-origin white chocolate, available from Nov 24, 2025 via Auro cafés, e-commerce, and Kultura.

In addition, Del Monte x Auro Café offers special, limited-edition pineapple-infused menu that bring together familiar Filipino comfort and tropical creativity.  Exclusively available at Auro Café BGC starting November 11 until December 7.

• Jamba Juice x Del Monte — Drink good, do good with every purchase of Aloha Pineapple smoothie or Pina Colada refresher. ₱5 will be donated to Del Monte’s farming communities for each cup sold of these offerings from Nov 3 – Dec 31, 2025.

The Kaayo Film: A Century of Goodness in Motion

The centerpiece of Del Monte’s centennial celebration is The Kaayo Film, a video tribute to a hundred years of nourishing goodness. Kaayo, which means “goodness,” tells the story of how this legacy began in Bukidnon, nurtured by generations of farmers and families whose care and compassion have allowed this goodness to grow, passed on and shared with every Filipino home today.

A Future Rooted in Goodness

A century on, Del Monte continues to show that nourishment goes far beyond the table — it is a living cycle that begins with the land, is sustained by people, and ultimately enriches the nation.

As Del Monte COO and President, Mr. Luis F. Alejandro shared, “If you take a look at the past 100 years, we have nourished not only products but the land, our employees, our barangays, and every partner we have in this operation. Nurturing generations is very important to Del Monte — I don’t think we would have reached 100 years if we failed to nurture the generations of people here, and the communities we serve.”

From Bukidnon to Filipino homes across the country, Del Monte’s story of Kaayo reminds us that when goodness is cultivated, it grows — nourishing lives, families, and communities for generations to come.