SWITCH-Asia Sustainable Consumption and Production for Food & Beverage Sector SMEs Sri Lanka Success Stories

17th March 2012, www.dailynews.lk,

SWITCH-Asia Food and Beverages Project of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce held a mini symposium on Sustainable Consumption and Production recently.

SWITCH-Asia Programme Project Director S.M. Sathiacama, speaking at the event said that the project which was commenced in 2009 helps Small and Medium Enterprises make their production process efficient by conserving energy and translate these savings to profits.

The implementing agency of the project highlighted the importance of food and beverage producers as well as all other manufacturers to be environmentally friendly and adopt practices that conserve energy and resources, CCC Solutions CEO Prema Cooray said.

The event was attended by a large number of the project's stakeholders in the Food and Beverages Industry ranging from plantations to dairy processing companies and representatives from the European Union, the project's funding agency and also personnel from the Ministries of Environment, Finance and Industry and Commerce.

Minister Counsellor, Head of Finance and Contracts of the European Union Wim Prud'homme highlighted the relationship between the European Union and Sri Lanka and its presence in the country for a long period of time and about its grants extended to Sri Lanka to rebuild after the conflict.

A number of stakeholders of the SWITCH-Asia Food and Beverages Project presented their successful case studies and shared their experiences and knowledge thus inspiring more and more organizations to learn and adopt their conservation success stories.

The entities that shared their success stories were: Convenience Food (Lanka) PLC, Dunagaha Coconut Producers Co-operatives Society, Foreconns Canneries Pvt Ltd, Glenugie Tea Processing Centre-Maskeliya Plantation PLC,

Laxapana Tea Processing Centre-Maskeliya Plantation PLC, Maxies and Company Pvt Ltd, Panilkanda Tea Factory-New Saman Group Pvt Ltd and Richlife Dairies Pvt Ltd. (SJ)

Related Info :

• Greening Sri Lanka Hotels Project under SWITCH-Asia Programme Enhances Environmental Performance of Sri Lankan Hotels

• EU-SWITCH-Asia Greening Sri Lanka Hotels Project Help Switch from Oil & Diesel to Biomass for Steam Generation in Hotels
 
• Switch-Asia Greening Sri Lanka Hotels Project for better Management of Water, Waste & Energy

Sri Lanka’s FMCG Sector Shows Rapid Growth. Valued at Rs 141bn in 2010. Food & Beverage Including Cigarettes Account for 74pct

06th February 2012, www.news360.lk

Sri Lanka’s Fast Moving Consumer Goods market has seen a rapid growth over the years, says a new equity research report.

The report says this has created fierce competition among manufactures, who are trying to provide quality products at a normal price range for the local consumers.

The report compiled by Bartleet Religare Securities also says, according to the available data, Sri Lanka’s FMCG market weighed at Rs. 141 billion during the year 2010.

It says, out of this portion 74% is captured by the Food and Beverage sector which also includes the consumption of cigarettes.

The report discloses that personal care and home care compete closely with a market share of 15% and 11% respectively.

BRS points out, that despite the growth in the FMCG sector, its traditional dependence on imported goods has slowed down as local manufacturers are substituting with equally good products.

The study reveals that in comparison to neighboring countries like India and Thailand Sri Lankan consumers on average shop at least four times a month.

“Increasing population in a country backed by strong per capita income growth would also influence consumers to buy more frequently”, adds the BRS report.

It says, Sri Lanka has a higher per capita income in comparison to other SAARC countries which it points out is said to increase to USD 4,000 by 2016.

The research finds that according to 2009/2010 official data, expenses of a household in Sri Lanka runs up to around Rs. 32,446 and out of that 40% is dedicated to food and drinks.

The balance, the report points out is distributed between various segments in the likes of housing, fuel and lighting, health care etc.

Related Info :

• Unprecedented Growth in Sri Lanka Supermarket Trade in Coming Years – Research Report