Alfredo Yao:Ready to Drink Zest

CEO Zest o Corp.

Alfredo Macam Yao, 64, also known as “Mr. Zest-O”, established a record of excellence in diversified fields of business. He began in the printing business before moving on to packaging, food and beverage manufacturing, chemicals, toiletries, real-estate development and banking.

He created and produced the “Zest-O” fruit juice brand and introduced a packaging technology known as doy pack, now widely used in beverages and liquid seasonings. His canned dalandan and calamsi sodas are often served in parties and receptions. The ensuing demand for the fruits has helped revitalize the local dalandan and calamansi citrus-growing country.

Other product lines Yao has developed are Beam toothpaste and Quickchow noodles. He holds the local franchise for the RC Cola softdrink, which will soon be exported to China.

In 1997, he went into banking, opening two Manila-based banks almost simultaneously: Philippine Business Bank Bank, a thrift bank of which he is the chairman and president; and Export & Industry Bank, a commercial bank where he sits as a director. PBB has 18 branches; Exportbank has 31 branches after its recent merger with Urban Bank. In 2003, he established the AMY Foundation to provide scholarships to students from poor families.

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