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Nestlé added another product to its portfolio recently, launching the Nespray Coco-Up to Sri Lankan consumers. Nestlé introduced its new product with high calcium, which plays an important role in a child’s diet and growth development, in a combination of milk with coconut flavour, noted to be the most preferred taste for the Sri Lankan palate.
Nespray Coco-Up comes in a 180ml pack priced at Rs. 60 and will be available in outlets islandwide. Nespray Coco-Up joins the Nespray portfolio made with local milk, namely, Nespray Fortigrow, Nespray Everyday and Nespray Nutri-Up.
The new product was launched at a ceremony at which Nestlé Managing Director Shivani Hegde, Nestlé Vice President (Dairy) Ruwan Welikala, top officials from Nestlé, the sales team, and distributors of the company were present.
Addressing the audience at the launch, Hegde said: “We are the largest private sector collector of fresh milk – a third of totally commercially available milk in the country is procured by Nestlé. We are able to impact the livelihood of 30,000 people in the country, and to support local communities, and coconut is procured over 6000 rural farmers by every year - approximately 18 million coconuts to Nestlé.”
Nestlé’s coconut plan, progressing from 2016 onwards, supports farmers to cultivate coconut successfully. The company manufactures coconut milk powder in its factory in Kurunegala since the 1980s, using Sri Lankan coconut, and supplies the Nestlé market worldwide.
Speaking of the company’s strengths, Hegde said: “We provide innovative, science-based products and services that enhance quality of life. We have provided a large investment to Research and development (R&D) and we will be able to tap into the largest R&D network in food companies in the world.”
Speaking on the significance of Nestlé products as one of the world’s largest exporters in food and beverages, 90% of products are produced locally, using local ingredients, she explained. She further added that in the interests of consumer health and promoting a healthy diet, Nestlé has reduced sugar, salt, saturated fat and added micronutrients such as iron and vitamin A, which are deficient in consumer diets. Nestlé conducts wellness programs and campaigns to support through investing, innovative new products. The company’s purpose is not to just produce and sell to consumers, but also to help local communities.
Highlighting the new product to the Nestlé portfolio, Welikala said: “With an innovative recipe of fresh milk and coconut, Nespray Coco-Up is unique consumption experience. Nespray has been trusted internationally and locally by providing milk in liquid form and powder base.”
The company is the market leader for local milk-based beverages and has been manufacturing dairy products in Sri Lanka since 1984.