Restaurateur, businessman, and sustainable seafood advocate Robert G. Eduardo has passed away, according to a statement from National Fisheries Institute (NFI) President John Connelly, a longtime friend and colleague.
The founder and CEO of RGE Agridev Corporation, which deals in marine product exports from the Philippines, specializing in canned pasteurized crabmeat and blue swimming crab products, Eduardo played integral roles in the formation of both the Philippine Association of Crab Processors, Inc. (PACPI), as well as the NFI Crab Council, where he served for many years on the executive committee.
Over the course of his two decades at the helm of RGE Agridev, Eduardo “oversaw innovation and expansion in a growing Philippine crab market, but never lost sight of the importance of being a steward of the resource,” Connelly recalled. Before starting RGE Agridev, Eduardo served as an executive of a multi-national food and beverage company.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and his many colleagues,” Connelly said. “Bobby will be missed.”
RGE Agridev Corporation sells its seafood and crab products under the brands Pier 717 and Milagros Bay. Guided by Eduardo’s sustainable values and vision, RGE Agridev’s crab products are British Retail Consortium and Halal certified, and adhere to standards of USFDA. The company – which is known for being the first HACCP-certified premier crabmeat exporter to the European Union from the Philippines – has spearheaded sustainable fishing methods to ensure “steady supply of seafood for future generations,” according to its website, and supports employment opportunities in remote, rural communities, as well as for persons with disabilities.
Photo courtesy of RGE Agridev Corporation
