Universal Robina Corporation (URC) has been recognized for its employer branding initiatives and commitment to foster a supportive, inclusive and growth-oriented workplace. 
 
URC – one of the Philippines’ largest food and beverage companies – received the Silver Award for Excellence in Employer Branding at the 2025 Economic Times Human Capital Awards Southeast Asia, held in Singapore. 
 
“This affirms our ongoing efforts to be an employer of choice by placing people at the center of URC’s success,” said Irwin Lee, URC President and CEO. “This award highlights the strength of our culture - where people are empowered to lead, grow, and succeed with purpose.” 

 
Central to URC’s employee growth program is its “Grow Beyond UR Job” program. 
 
Grow Beyond UR Job is a collaboration among human resources representatives from URC’s Philippine and international business units. 
 
The initiative has become core to URC’s “people programs”, including talent acquisition, onboarding, employee recognition and leadership communications. 
 
“What started as a message has become a mindset,” said Lee. “Grow beyond UR job has become a cultural foundation that drives how we build careers, celebrate potential, and grow leaders from within.” 
 
“It reflects our belief that growth happens when people are trusted to lead, equipped to stretch, and inspired to make a difference,” he added. 
 
URC was earlier named by Time magazine and online data firm Statista as among the Asia-Pacific’s best 500 companies of 2025 for, among others, its robust employee satisfaction program. 
 
In compiling its list of Asia-Pacific’s best companies, Time and Statista used a 2023 survey data of over 50,000 employees across the Asia-Pacific to measure employee satisfaction. 

URC, among the Philippines’ Best Employers: URC – one of the Philippines’ largest food and beverage companies – received the Silver Award for Excellence in Employer Branding at the 2025 Economic Times Human Capital Awards Southeast Asia, held in Singapore. In photo: 
the company was represented at the awards ceremony by (from left): Mark Kevin Lanuzo, Officer for HR Solutions; Roland Villareal, Global Head for Learning and Talent Management; and Alex Gomez, Manager for Talent Acquisition and Corporate Programs. Also in photo is Angelina Chua, HR Director of COFCO International and member of the award jury (extreme right).