When Love Blooms Between Two Cultures

MANILA, Philippines (February 2024) - Love transcends borders especially when two share the same passion. The same is true for Japan’s most-loved almond milk brand, Glico’s Almond Koka and award-winning Filipino tree-to-bar chocolate brand Auro Chocolate – who both share the same passion for championing culinary diversity. That’s when love blooms. 

This Valentine’s season, the two teamed up to create ORINASU CAFÉ, a special pop-up cafe that marries together Japanese and Filipino cultures through lovingly handcrafted drinks and treats. Located at MITSUKOSHI BGC, ORINASU CAFÉ will add more sweetness to the season from February 1 to February 19, 2024. 

Japan’s No. 1 and the Philippines’ Finest

From the makers of the globally loved brand, Pocky, Glico’s Almond Koka is Japan’s best-selling almond milk brand, known for its superior quality taste–all thanks to the company’s relentless pursuit of quality and Japanese technology. Yet another signature work of Glico’s finesse at blending great taste with nutrition, Almond Koka offers a richer and stronger nutty flavor because of the emulsifying method of adding honey and almond oil to ground almond paste. 

Collaborating with Japan’s Almond Koka is the Philippines’ premier chocolate brand, Auro Chocolate. The chocolate company carved its path to the global chocolate scene by earning prestigious awards at esteemed international chocolate competitions. For this new concept, Auro Chocolate prides itself in working with MITSUKOSHI FRESH in selecting only the finest Japanese ingredients – such as Matcha, Hojicha and Miso – to be used in crafting the menu. And in line with Auro’s meticulous, innovative, and time-tested know-how, this collaboration with Almond Koka brings out the best in Filipino & Japanese epicurean cultures.  

ORINASU CAFÉ

Japanese for 'weave’, ORINASU is exactly what the pop-up cafe symbolizes: the weaving of two cultures through the harmonious fusion of Almond Koka’s and Auro’s product versatility–as seen with the cafe’s limited-edition line of “Choc Au Lait” vegan-friendly drinks and snacks. 

Gracing the menu is the fascinating drink that is the Miso Salted Caramel! This luscious vegan-friendly white chocolate drink combined with Maruhide’s top-quality Miso, Auro’s Salted Caramel and Almond Koka - our take on Salted Caramel with a Japanese Twist. Served with a generous heap of White Chocolate shavings.

Hojicha is just pure bliss in a cup. Enjoy the comforting flavors of Auro’s creamy white chocolate, infused with Ikeda Senchado’s top-quality Hojicha, complemented by the richness of Almond Koka.

If you haven’t found “the one” yet, maybe the next drink could be your perfect matcha. ORINASU’s vegan-friendly white chocolate matcha hits the spot with its perfect balance of sweet and earthy. The  Ikeda Senchado matcha creation provides that familiar grassy notes, blended with a sweet, velvety finish from Almond Koka.

If you’re looking for something bold, then you’ll surely love the luscious Dark Choc. This drink is incredibly rich yet smooth because of the combined decadence of Auro Dark Chocolate and Almond Koka. 

Completing the menu is the Dark Chocolate Stuffed with Strawberries French Toast. Each bite is a delightful burst of Auro dark chocolate filling, tarty strawberry jam with the goodness of Almond Koka. Every treat from ORINASU CAFÉ is brought to you by Almond Koka and Auro Chocolate. For more information, FOLLOW @glico_ph and @aurochocolate on INSTAGRAM.

CHINESE FOODS TO ATTRACT GOOD LUCK AT SM

Food plays a central role in Chinese culture and celebrations. And like the lucky charms and trinkets, dishes commonly served at the Chinese New Year have symbolic meaning for the year ahead. So if you're looking for a positive start to the Chinese New Year, SM City Grand Central, SM Center Sangandaan and SM City Valenzuela have rounded up lucky dishes that is sure to bring you daji dali—good luck and great prosperity.

LONGEVITY NOODLES. Noodles symbolize longevity- the longer the better. As the name suggests, the long and uncut strands signify the long life of anyone who partakes it. Eating noodles on Chinese New Year is believed to attract good health and long life. Shoppers may try Panda Express’ Chow Mein. This savory stir-fried noodle dish is expertly cooked with a flavorful combination of fresh vegetables and seasoned with a savory soy-based sauce, creating a delightful medley of textures and tastes. Panda Express is located at the 2nd level of SM City Grand Central. 

DUMPLINGS. Dumplings are the most popular lucky Chinese food. They are considered lucky food because they resemble ancient Chinese gold or silver ingot, which represent wealth and success. Eating dumplings during this festive season is said to bring good fortune and financial prosperity, making them an important element of Lunar New Year festivities. Experience the luck and prosperity of the Lunar New Year with David’s Teahouse lucky dumplings, available at SM Foodcourt on the 4th level of SM City Grand Central.

SPRING ROLLS. Spring rolls are named after the event for which they are customarily cooked, the Spring Festival. The crisp golden rolls are believed to represent gold bars, bringing wealth and success in the coming year. Eating spring rolls also represents the shedding of the old and welcoming the new, which is consistent with the spirit of renewal and good fortune connected with the Chinese New Year. Enjoy the symbolically rich tastes and crispy deliciousness of Hap Chan’s Spring rolls available at SM City Valenzuela. 

WHOLE STEAMED FISH. Did you know that the Chinese word for fish means abundance? No wonder they believe in eating fish while celebrating the Lunar New Year. Serving the fish whole, head and tail included, represents family completeness and oneness. Sharing this meal symbolizes a desire for unity and plenty, making it an important and auspicious option for gatherings. Share this cuisine with the whole family and elevate your dining experience at SM City Grand Central’s Mandarin Sky. 

TIKOY. Commonly known as “nian gao” in Chinese, Tikoy represents growth of prosperity. The glutinous rice cake’s sticky texture represents family togetherness and the adherence of good fortune. It is traditionally savored as a sweet dessert and symbolizes the promise for a "sweet" and successful year ahead. Sharing and giving tikoy during Lunar New Year festivities is thought to increase the spirit of peace and good fortune among family and friends. Head to SM Supermarket at SM Center Sangandaan to discover the perfect tikoy for your festivities. Shoppers may also try other Chinese delicacies like Hopia and Kiat-kiat. 

Embrace the good fortune the Year of the Wood Dragon brings only at SM City Grand Central, SM Center Sangandaan and SM City Valenzuela.  Visit us today!

RELEX Closes 2023 with Record Customer Growth

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – RELEX Solutions announced closing 2023 with remarkable growth across annual recurring revenue (ARR), customer net promoter score (NPS) satisfaction, and new customer signings. Overall, RELEX saw 42% year-over-year growth of reported subscription revenue in 2023, and in Q4 2023 realized its 66th quarter of consecutive ARR growth. This growth is attributed to new and expanded customer signings across the globe, as a variety of retailers and consumer goods companies recognize the deep value inherent in the company’s supply chain and retail planning solutions. RELEX delivers quick time to value, and has a flawless track record of successful implementations in the company’s decade-plus history. 

“The bedrock of our customer promise lies in delivering measurable, impactful results, very quickly. We stand by the premise of ‘doing what we say we’re going to do’ which not only instills trust, but confidence,” said Mikko Kärkkäinen, group CEO and co-founder, RELEX Solutions. “I’m very proud of our growth this year, which is directly attributed to the lasting relationships we form with customers from day one.”

In 2023, RELEX closed nearly 200 customer deals, of which 73 were net-new customers. Some of the new customers RELEX signed in 2023 included A.F. Blakemore & Son, bp, Casey’s, Fressnapf, Koala Furniture, Obramax, OXXO, PriceSmart, United Natural Foods, US Foods® CHEF’STORE™ and 7-Eleven Australia. RELEX also saw a 31% increase in customers that chose to expand their business with RELEX to capture additional business value in 2023, which speaks to the measurable results and value customers gain working with RELEX, as evidenced by a company-high NPS rating of 61 globally. The average NPS score for a SaaS company is 41; RELEX consistently scores well above the industry average each quarter. 

With the recent acquisition of Optimity, RELEX also welcomes 80+ customers across highly complex manufacturing and food and beverage industries including Blendwell, Bubbies Ice Cream, Vita Coco, and Finsbury. These customers join the roster of consumer goods companies at RELEX including Altia, Angulas Aguinaga, Atria, Hennig-Olsen, Maag Group, and Saarioinen, among others. Across retail, wholesale distribution, and manufacturing, RELEX currently has a portfolio of over 500 happy customers.