AIR21 partners with Sarisuki to bring fresh produce from farmers to community sellers

MANILA — AIR21 partners with Sarisuki to deliver fruits and vegetables from farmers in Benguet to community sellers in Metro Manila.

This partnership seeks to lower the cost and ensure consistent supply of fresh produce in ubiquitous talipapa. It also aims to lessen overall food supply chain wastage and help ensure food security across Metro Manila.

Sarisuki, a social e-commerce platform founded in 2020 as a response to the need for livelihood and connectivity during the pandemic, is committed to enriching lives of new generation entrepreneurs and partner farmers through building an ecosystem that offers supermarket quality products at wet market prices. Currently, Sarisuki services Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, parts of Batangas, Quezon, and Cebu.

“Our team at AIR21 finds this partnership very meaningful. It’s our privilege to use our decades of expertise in domestic freight forwarding in helping Sarisuki achieve its growth targets. This collaboration is a manifestation of our Luzon backhaul expansion. We will continue to maximize our nautical and road network linehaul in enabling local businesses’ daily operations,” John Casupang, President of AIR21.

As one of the Philippines’ pioneers in logistics, AIR21 is committed to providing quality service to its partners across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The said logistics company has 4 major hubs and 68 retail branches.

Now backed by Ayala Corporation through AC Logistics, AIR21 is geared towards accelerating technological advancements while improving efficiencies brought by synergies with other AC Logistics companies – Entrego, U-Freight, U-Ocean, LGC Logistics, Cargohaus Inc., GMAC CDO, WARM, and IWMI.

“AC Logistics recognizes the need to enhance logistics capabilities throughout the country. We have assembled a full end-to-end logistics solutions portfolio to address the most pressing supply chain challenges, including food security and preservation. We are genuinely excited to see our purpose materialize through this milestone. The entire AC Logistics team is looking forward to growing this partnership with Sarisuki,” Nona Torres, Chief Commercial Officer of AC Logistics Holdings Corporation.

Sarisuki is founded by Brian Cu, Philippe Lorenzo, and Bam Mejia, with hopes of addressing the problematic paradox of consumers experiencing a market of overpriced goods whilst farmers are struggling to make a living.

“At Sarisuki, we strive to positively impact the country’s agricultural sector by finding solutions to lower production costs, helping farmers improve yields, and implementing systems that will lessen overall food supply chain wastage. It’s extremely problematic that farmers are considered the weakest end of the agricultural chain amidst being the backbone of the sector. Through this partnership, we aim to get products from hard-to-reach communities into the hands of consumers in a short time. Combined with the power of Sarisuki community selling, the AIR21 partnership will help create a stronger bridge between farmers and consumers. We hope to build a more inclusive and progressive agriculture industry in the Philippines, one community at a time,” Brian CU, President and CEO of Sarisuki.

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AC Logistics Holdings Corporation (AC Logistics) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ayala Corporation and serves as the portfolio company for logistics services, including door-to-door express and on-demand delivery, general and specialized warehousing and fulfillment, domestic and international freight forwarding, waste logistics and management. AC Logistics provides end-to-end supply chain solutions through (1) movement of goods by its subsidiaries: U-Freight, U-Ocean, Entrego, and AIR21, (2) specialized warehousing by: LGC Logistics, Cargohaus, and GMAC CDO, and (3) waste management and logistics by WARM and IWMI.