Cargills FoodCity continues transformative impact with opening of 500th outlet

Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe as the Chief Guest cuts the ribbon to mark the opening of Cargills FoodCity 500th retail outlet in Akuregoda yesterday. Cargills (Ceylon) Deputy Chairman Ranjit Page looks on

Cargills FoodCity yesterday achieved yet another milestone recently with the opening of its 500th retail outlet.

In its bold and dynamic 39-year journey, Sri Lanka’s most loved retail chain has simultaneously charted the evolution of the retail supermarket business in the country, with local neighbourhoods and real estate developments mushrooming around its outlets.

By benchmarking itself against international supermarkets, Cargills FoodCity set the bar high for others that followed in its footsteps, while its success served to attract more investors into the sector. Apart from being one of the most recognisable Sri Lankan brand successes, Cargills FoodCity has also had a far-reaching and sustainable impact on the economy and local community.

Being present in all 25 districts, it introduced the supermarket experience to Sri Lankans, beyond urban areas.

Cargills was the first company from the South to enter the North, setting up the Vavuniya Cargills FoodCity in 2004. Moving to the East in just four years, the company also established a Cargills FoodCity Express in Trincomalee in 2007, even as the war was raging. To date, it is the only supermarket to operate in the North and East. On the economic front, Cargills FoodCity has encouraged entrepreneurism across the country by showcasing local brands, many of whom have upscaled their businesses and are confident about the company’s backing. Cargills FoodCity has supported many small and medium enterprises and has helped them create new categories with innovations.

One of the key focus areas has been to ensure that the products meet the most stringent quality standards that Cargills FoodCity is reputed for. This not only assures the freshest and most hygienic products for consumers, but it also showcases to the world that Sri Lanka adheres to the highest quality benchmarks.

Through this strategy, Cargills FoodCity has been able to support SMEs, which are the backbone of the economy. A World Bank study also revealed that farmers working in the Cargills supply chain receive a higher price for their efforts, leading to its customers receiving a low price. The Gates’ Foundation also declared Cargills’ value proposition as a model worth emulating, shining a light on efforts on a global scale.

Access to markets has always been an obstacle for local farmers but Cargills has created a ready market for Sri Lankan farmers by sending its trucks across the country to source fresh produce in its farm-to-table concept in order to offer the freshest and hygienic products. By purchasing fresh produce directly from farmers, Cargills not only elevated their quality of life, but gave them hope for the future through its SaruBima Fund.

Today, Cargills is the single largest collector of fresh produce, sourcing fresh fruits and vegetables from a network of over 5000 farmers and contributes over 4% of the national production in fruits and vegetables - a percentage that continues to grow.

It is also the largest collector of fresh milk in Sri Lanka and contributes over 14% of the national milk production. The company is also a leading contributor to the livestock, poultry and animal husbandry sectors. Cargills FoodCity has been a significant employment generator in-line with its expanding network. From 400 stores in October 2019, Cargills has added 100 stores by 2022 with the opening of its 500th outlet. This expansion has extended direct and indirect employment to hundreds of youth and exposed employees from all districts across the country to good practices in food and nutrition.