Aboitiz Foods leaders gathered for their annual Leadership Conference in February 2026, where they reaffirmed their renewed commitment to accountability and ownership, in line with its value of the year, “Step Up and Be Accountable.”
As a regional food and agribusiness company with a geographically diverse leadership team, the two-day conference served as a vital catalyst for collaboration and reinforced of the organization’s core values.
The conference, now in its third year, hosted over 120 new and established leaders who centered their discussions on the theme: “Leading the Self, the Team, and the Org.” Reflecting Aboitiz Foods’ deeply ingrained culture of continuous learning, leaders participated in a series of talks on change management and on empowering their teams to take ownership of their commitments.
This critical focus was championed by Tristan Aboitiz, Aboitiz Foods President and Chief Executive Officer, who stressed: “Accountability is not about control. It’s about trust.”
“As we continue to grow, the cost of unclear ownership, delayed decisions, and passive leadership increases. Stepping up means making the call when it’s yours to make, having the difficult conversations and raising issues early, and owning outcomes—not just intentions,” he added.
Most importantly, the leaders presented and aligned on each department’s 2026 strategies, especially given the new challenges the year ahead poses.
During his welcoming remarks, Tristan Aboitiz emphasized an important message for the leaders: “Leadership is not a title. It’s a set of daily choices that we make consistently over time.”
The company’s recent strong performance demonstrates the effectiveness of collaboration amongst leaders. However, Aboitiz pointed out that maintaining this momentum and achieving even greater success in the future will ultimately hinge on each individual’s commitment to the ‘Step Up and Be Accountable’ value, driving ownership among every team member. “It is important to emphasize that we are not simply trying to grow for growth’s sake. Our growth must come with a continued focus on becoming a more disciplined, more resilient, and higher-performing organization. Reiterating again here, it is not simply about hitting numbers; it is about how we hit them,” he stated.
As Aboitiz Foods moves into 2026, the call to “Step Up and Be Accountable” will serve as its guiding principle. This commitment will be crucial as the company navigates the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. By prioritizing accountability, Aboitiz Foods aims to foster a culture of responsibility and transparency among its employees.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What was the main theme of the 2026 Aboitiz Foods Leadership Conference?
The conference theme was “Lead the Self, Lead the Team, Lead the Org.”
- Which company value was highlighted during the conference and is also Aboitiz Foods’ Value of the year for 2026?
The conference centered around the company’s value of the year, “Step Up and Be Accountable,” and a renewed commitment to accountability and ownership.
- Who attended the 2026 Leadership Conference?
Over 120 new and established leaders from the eight countries where Aboitiz Foods operates attended, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, China, Singapore, and Thailand.
- What were the main topics discussed at the conference?
Leaders participated in talks focused on change management and empowering their teams to take ownership of their commitments, in addition to presenting and aligning on each department’s 2026 strategy.
