Growing a Sustainable Food Business in the Philippines: How Dehusk Balances Profit and Social Good

Even as the coconut milk brand Dehusk scales itself by introducing new ways of expressing coconut milk and launching several strategic collaborations, the team behind Dehusk remains rooted in its mission of sustainability.

“The last thing I want is to trade complete profit and disregard the mission...and the reason why I’m saying that is because Dehusk's product in itself is sustainable in three aspects already: environmental, social, and financial. For us to sacrifice those core values is us going against our business,” company CEO and co-founder Samuel Tecuala told The Business Manual in an interview on June 27, 2026.

On the sidelines of the June 27 launch event for its newest product, the Dehusk Barista Coconut Milk, Tecuala said that by partnering with people who align with the company’s mission, the team does not have to worry about contradicting its values.

To further its sustainability mission, which also includes alleviating the Philippines’ micronutrient deficiency, he shared the company’s participation in school milk feeding programs.

Preschool children are one of the most vulnerable groups affected by micronutrient deficiency, particularly in iron, the Department of Health’s National Nutrition Council reported.

The lack of iron consumption may lead to iron deficiency anemia, which may cause symptoms such as chest pain, headaches, and poor appetite.

Coconut milk contains several nutrients, including iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and zinc, according to a 2022 study published in the Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering journal platform.

“A lot of the mission has to affect the masses because if we are true to our vision of improving the micronutrient deficiency in the country, the problem – it has to touch the masses," Tecuala said. "Otherwise, we’re just going to be a vanity project.”

Company co-founders Samuel Tecuala, Nadine Lustre, and Christophe Bariou launched the brand’s newest offering, Dehusk Barista Coconut Milk, during a launch event held on June 27, 2026, at the Auro Chocolate Cafe BGC, Taguig City.

The barista variant is billed as the company’s response to feedback from customers to create a product catered to the professional barista culture in the Philippines.