Cebu-based beauty products maker GT Cosmetics is expanding its soap production through the construction of a third manufacturing plant to meet an expected increase in demand next year with the integration of Southeast Asian countries in the region.
GT Cosmetics, which currently celebrates its 20th year anniversary, broke ground for the new plant last August 23 in a 3,320-square meter lot in Barangay Tayud, Consolacion in Cebu.
“The new plant will help prepare GT Cosmetics for the integration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),” said Engr. Leonora Salvanes, GT Cosmetics founder and chief executive officer.
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| Engr. Salvane (center), GT Cosmetics founder and chief executive officer, lead the groundbreaking ceremony of GT Cosmetics' third plant in Tayud, Consolacion, Cebu. With her are Dr. Ely Tecson, DTI Cebu Province Division Chief, Monsignor Sin Iriate, Construction in-charge Engr. Dennis Campit, Liloan Municipal Engineer Remy Udtohan, Barangay Tayud captain Oscarlito Cabahug, and GT Cosmetics managers. |
Salvane said that the new plant will double production to 30,000 soaps a day and help increase the firm’s capacity to cater to the ASEAN’s 600 million strong consumer market.
Joining Engr. Salvane in the groundbreaking ceremony is Dr. Ely Tecson, DTI Cebu Province Division Chief, Monsignor Sin Iriate, Construction in-charge Engr. Dennis Campit, Liloan Municipal Engineer Remy Udtohan, Barangay Tayud captain Oscarlito Cabahug, and GT Cosmetics managers.
The ground breaking ceremony was held the same day a public hearing was conducted with over 200 Tayud residents who overwhelmingly supported the construction of the soap factory in their barangay.
The said manufacturing plant, which is projected to begin operations next year, is the company’s third and biggest plant after the first in Liloan, Cebu and the second in Marilao, Bulacan.
According to Salvane, once open the plant will require the hiring of 80 workers to man its operations. Its construction cost is P50 million.
Salvane also assured local residents of Tayud, Consolacion that the new plant will be installing a waste water treatment facility. Moreover, she said that the site of the plant is located in an industrial zone which has a working drainage for industrial wastes.
GT Cosmetics has a P25 million a month as its average gross revenue, with the lion’s share of its consumer base hailing from the Visayas and Mindanao.
The manufacturing plant in Bulacan, which had a construct cost of 20 million pesos, started operations last year to fulfill the rising demand for GT Cosmetics skin care products in Luzon.
The beauty company’s products, especially its signature carrot, papaya, and lemon soaps, are also available in countries like Canada, China, Finland, Japan, Korea, and the United States.
In line with its 20th anniversary, GT Cosmetics also launched new products this year, including the GT Essential Facial Scrub, Papaya Lotion, Liquid Body Soap, and fragrances. These will come on top of the firm’s nine product lines currently available in the market.
GT Cosmetics has come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1994 when Salvane, a chemical engineer, made soaps using baking moulds in her home kitchen.
Today it stands as one the homegrown Cebuano entrepreneurs that have managed to break in the beauty business and become successful.
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