the Outsider - PSE Points to Ponder

In the first quarter of 2026, two of the Philippines’ most closely watched food-and-beverage empires delivered a study in contrasts: Ramon Ang’s San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc. showed the strength of scale, while Betty Ang’s Monde Nissin Corp. showed the power of margin recovery and faster growth. Ramon S. Ang is chairman of San Miguel Food and Beverage and chairman and CEO of San Miguel Corp., while Betty T. Ang has been Monde Nissin’s president and director for more than 45 years. SMFB remained the heavyweight. Its first-quarter sales reached ₱103.1 billion , more than four times Monde Nissin’s ₱22.8 billion net sales, underscoring San Miguel’s commanding position across beer, spirits, and food. But the smaller Monde Nissin moved faster: sales rose 9.1% , outpacing SMFB’s 4.3% growth, as demand across its Asia-Pacific branded food business and a rebound in meat alternatives lifted the top line. The divergence was sharper at the profit line. Monde Nissin’s net income jumped 34.1% ...

  San Miguel Food and Beverage Inc., one of the core consumer arms of the San Miguel group led by Ramon S. Ang, opened 2026 with a performance that does not scream acceleration — but does signal durability. For the first quarter ended March 31, SMFB reported ₱103.1 billion in consolidated sales, up 4% from a year earlier. Net income rose 2% to ₱11.8 billion , while net income attributable to the parent increased 4% to ₱7.8 billion . The numbers reinforce SMFB’s role as a defensive pillar of the broader San Miguel empire: a branded consumer franchise that can still expand revenues, protect margins, and generate cash even as households face inflation, fuel-price pressure, higher excise taxes, and softer discretionary spending. Yet the quarter also showed the limits of defensive growth. SMFB is not immune to a tougher environment. Its beer business saw volume pressure, operating cash flow weakened relative to last year, and overall profit growth was more measured than the stronger...