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)

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Bocuse d’Or World Champion 2009 Chef Geir Skeie in Sri Lanka

12th March 2012, www.nation.lk

Demonstrating the unbreakable link between the industry of tourism and culinary arts, Geir Skeie, the Bocuse d’Or World Champion 2009 Chef shared his cooking expertise with the local hotel school students today at the Sri Lanka Institute of Tourist Hotel Management. Chef Geir Skeie arrived from Norway on March 5. At the cooking demonstration, the world renowned chef shared his knowledge of preparing a delicious Norwegian salmon dish with the local students.

He also guided the Bocuse d’or Sri Lanka winners, chef Budhika Samarasekara and his apprentice Rashen John who would go to Shanghai later in this year, with positive hopes for the Bocuse d’Or Asian championship.

The arrival of the Chef Geir Skie was indeed great news for Sri Lanka Tourism. With the ambition of achieving 950,000 tourist arrivals by the end of 2012, Sri Lanka Tourism perceives the importance of raising the standards of culinary arts as a major component in boosting the industry.

Moreover, Sri Lanka Tourism sees a potential in the investment of young and emerging chefs in achieving the future tourism goals. Geir Skie was the winner of Bocuse d’Or in 2009 and Bocuse d’Or Europe in 2008. He also won the prize for the best debut cookbook in the ‘Gourmand World Cookbook Award 2009’.

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.

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Nestlé Opens Rs 1bn Noodle Plant Marking the 2nd Phase of Its Investment Commitment of Rs 10bn in Sri Lanka

12th January 2012, www.ft.lk

Nestlé opened its new noodle plant at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Kurunegala yesterday, marking the second phase of its investment commitment of Rs. 10 billion in the country.

The company’s latest investment, amounting to Rs. 1.1 billion, sees the completion of a new noodle manufacturing plant that will increase and upgrade output for Nestlé’s popular Maggi Noodles range.


The Maggi Noodles manufacturing plant was inaugurated by Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena, who presided at the event as Chief Guest, in the presence of Minister of Environment Anura P. Yapa, Minister of Co-op and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando, Minster of Coconut and Janatha Estate Development Jagath Pushpakumara and NWP Chief Minister Athula Wijesinghe.

Also present were Embassy of Switzerland Deputy Head of Mission Franz Schneider, Chairman of Nestlé Lanka PLC and Regional Head for Nestlé South Asia Helio Waszyk and Nestlé Lanka PLC Managing Director Alois Hofbauer.

Commenting on the new noodle plant and the long term implications of the expansion, Minister Yapa said: “Nestlé Lanka’s strong and continued commitment to the development of Sri Lanka is increasingly evident through each aspect of the company’s activities.”

“The developments seen here will not only provide job opportunities and steady income for many members of the community, but also provide enhanced and consistent demand for raw materials that will positively impact many suppliers and rural farmers across Sri Lanka,” he added.

Nestlé Lanka MD Hofbauersaid: “Our new-cutting edge noodles plant for our much-loved Maggi Noodles product marks another milestone achieved in delivering on our Rs. 10 billion investment plan for Sri Lanka. We have a lot of exciting new products in the pipeline for 2012. This latest culinary expansion will ensure that our consumers are able to delight their taste buds with our latest and delicious Maggi Noodle innovations.”

Nestlé operates on the ethos of ‘Creating Shared Value’ in the communities it touches. In 2011, in line with its mission to ‘Create Shared Value,’ Nestlé committed to a Rs. 10 billion investment in Sri Lanka (for dairy development and capacity expansion in its beverage and culinary areas) over a period of five years. “The inauguration of this new noodle plant with an investment of Rs. 1.1 billion, our first investment in 2012, marks another investment milestone and demonstrates Nestlé’s commitment to invest in and partner with Sri Lanka for mutual growth and development. Being voted by Sri Lankan consumers as the number one nutrition, health and wellness company in a recent survey is a testament of our continuous focus and commitment to provide ‘Good Food, Good Life’ to our valued consumers,” said Waszyk.

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Ayurvedic Expo 2011 Promotes Sri Lanka's Indigenous Medicine

16th July 2011, www.onlanka.com, By Janaka Alahapperuma, Pix By Chandana Perera

Ayurvedic Expo 2011 International Indigenous Health care Exhibition, Trade Fair and Symposium was ceremonially inaugurated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Bandaranayaka Memorial International Conference Hall at BMICH, Colombo today on 15 July.

The three day mega Exhibition & Symposium will showcase and promote local and foreign Ayurvedic products and services from over 20 participating countries including India, Canada, Singapore, Pakistan, the Netherlands, Japan, China, the United Kingdom, Germany and South Africa.

Ayurvedic EXPO 2011 jointly organized with the Chamber of Commerce, Sri Lanka Tourism, Ministry of Indigenous Medicine, Export Development Board and the Ministry of External Affairs. The exhibition geared to promote tourism, trade and preservation of Indigenous Medicine in Sri Lanka. It also promote natural Ayurvedic medicine something is unique to Sri Lanka and treatments along with different forms of medication.

Local and foreign exhibitors have maximum exposure, publicity for their products and services with an excellent brand image and ample opportunities to interact with foreign and local clients. Visitors will have the opportunity to know from A – Z about indigenous health care products, services and treatment methods practiced in Sri Lanka and other Countries. There are stalls of products and services from sectors such as eco- friendly health food, acupuncture, homeopathy, beauty care products and a host of other sectors connected with Ayurveda.

President Rajapaksa presented awards to many institutions which had worked for the well being of the indigenous medical sector.

Prime Minister, D.M. Jayaratne, Minister of Indigenous Medicine, Salinda Dissanayaka, Deputy Minister Pandu Bandaranayaka, Deputy Minister Jayaratne Herath Chairman of the Sri Lanka National Chamber of Commerce, Ashoka Hettigoda and Chairman of the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, Janaka Rathnayaka were also present on the occasion.

The Exhibition will continue until Sunday 17 July.

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