“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” — Alan Kay
In a world driven by constant change, innovation is not optional—it is essential. This year, The Mill, Aboitiz Foods’ company-wide product innovation competition, celebrates bold ideas shaping the future of food and agribusiness.
Short for The MILL-ion Dollar Idea, The Mill began in 2024 as an ideation challenge designed to spark curiosity and creativity among team members and leaders. The goal was simple: give our people a space to ideate and explore forward-thinking concepts for new or enhanced products and services.
In just its second year, The Mill has grown significantly. Participants from five key markets submitted over 100 entries—a major leap from last year’s 50+ entries. These ideas represented diverse perspectives from Supply Chain, Nutrition, Marketing, and Research and Development, among others. Many of these concepts focused on proactive, strategic investments aligned with predictive technology, advanced science, and enterprise transformation. Collectively, they reflect our A+ Behaviors of being Innovative, Smart, Entrepreneurial, and Fast — core to the Aboitiz Group’s Great Transformation.
From a total of 108 entries, three emerged at the top. On November 13, 2025, the finalists presented their ideas during Breakthrough Day at the Aboitiz Foods Singapore office before an esteemed panel of judges composed of executive leaders from the Agribusiness division: Eric Nojac, Senior Vice President and Business Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Agribusiness; Alexandre Moreau, First Vice President for Engineering and Operations; Louis Marie Gallois, Vice President for Specialty Nutrition Business; Pierre Lemoine, First Vice President & Group Director for Purchasing; Syrena Powell, First Vice President and Research & Technology Director for Agribusiness; and Joeben Gamatero, Vice President for Brand & Reputation Management and Agribusiness Marketing.
Here are the top three entries based on their final placements:
1. Optimization of Liver Function to Boost Broiler Performance (1st Place Winner)
Team Members: Rifki Putra Adimulia, Yasmin Firdaus, Krisna Yulian Irwanto, and Satria Al Yuda (Indonesia)
Their proposal focused on replacing high-cost raw materials with ingredients derived directly from chickens to improve overall performance while minimizing operational costs and maximizing profitability.
2. Utilization of Snack Meal as an Alternative Energy Source in Feeds (2nd Place Winner)
Team Members: Yasmin Firdaus and Krisna Yulian Irwanto (Indonesia)
Their entry addressed the use of leftover snacks and food waste from food chains as an alternative source for animal feeds, resulting in cost savings.
3. Project SILICA: Valorization of Rice Husk Ash into Desiccant Technology for Sustainable Feed Preservation (3rd Place Winner)
Team Members: Rolando Magdalaro, Jr., Kent Andrew Tuble, Evannie Grace Mendoza, Mery Jane Bandolon, and Anna Mae Origenes (Philippines)
Their submission discussed repurposing rice husk ash into silica that can absorb moisture from the air, keeping products dry and protected from damage.
The top three winners received an all-expense-paid trip to Singapore, along with cash prizes of USD 2,000 for first place, USD 1,000 for second place, and USD 500 for third place.
Each team demonstrated exceptional creativity, practical solutions, and a forward-thinking mindset—reflecting Aboitiz Foods’ strong commitment to innovation. This same spirit is embodied in our Always Better behavior, which encourages us to think outside the box and continuously find ways to better serve the organization and our stakeholders.
Milling Game-Changing Ideas
Innovation has always been a core part of who we are at Aboitiz Foods. As we progress on Aboitiz Group’s journey toward the Great Transformation and becoming the Philippines’ first Techglomerate, we launched The Mill in 2024 with the goal of sparking game-changing ideas among our team members. In an industry with a rich history, embracing change is essential to staying ahead of modern trends and advancing technology.
In its inaugural year, The Mill received over 50 ideas focused on more reactive, tactical problem-solving and foundational digital steps. One winning concept from China introduced a new functional broiler pre-started feeds that have already generated 553 MT in sales with a total revenue of CNY 278,000 (approximately USD 39,000) in 2024.
This outcome inspired The Mill to pivot its focus to innovations related to new products and business models.
“When we first launched The Mill, the goal was to create a platform where ideas could take root and evolve into solutions that move our business forward,” Eric Nojac told the participants during The Mill’s Breakthrough Day.
This renewed focus resulted in over 100 entries in 2025, showcasing more strategic concepts with an emphasis on operational and product fundamentals. These ideas not only strengthen the core businesses of Aboitiz Foods but also demonstrate how our team members are committed to pursuing the shared goals that drive the organization’s success.
“This year’s focus on product innovation has made that purpose even more meaningful. From concepts that enhance product quality to ideas that open new income streams and markets, your submissions show how innovation directly contributes to our growth at Aboitiz Foods,” Nojac added.
From Ideas to Impact
Building on this year’s success, The Mill will continue to be a platform for team members where their bold ideas and innovations can thrive. Eric Nojac also emphasized the importance of initiatives like The Mill, stating, “Let’s continue this momentum. Keep asking questions, exploring new possibilities, and finding ways to create meaningful impact — from the smallest improvement to the next breakthrough product. Together, we are shaping a future defined by innovation, purpose, and shared success.” The strategic thinking, collaboration, and innovation demonstrated by this year’s participants set a high standard for future entries and inspire the organization to push its boundaries even further.
As the Aboitiz Group advances on its Great Transformation journey, team members are encouraged to keep exploring new possibilities—developing breakthrough ideas, enhancing product performance, and identifying untapped market opportunities.
In the coming year, the winning ideas presented during The Mill will undergo deeper exploration and feasibility testing to prepare for their implementation. These steps reflect our commitment to turning promising ideas into real-world solutions that create value for Aboitiz Foods and the communities we serve.
By fostering a culture of innovation and embracing the Always Better behavior, Aboitiz Foods is not just reacting to change, but it is inventing the future of food and agribusiness.
