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One of Sri Lanka’s top local brands Maliban has signed up a Rs. 20 million partnership for the next two months joint promotion in the newly revamped Lanka Sathosa push to attract footfall and move to a Rs. 35 billion targeted sales in 2016.
The launch took place in Vavuniya under the leadership of the Minister for Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen who said the national asset of Lanka Sathosa which has 312 retail outlets across the country will never be privatised.
Lanka Sathosa Chairman Dr. Rohantha Athukorala commented that we want every single brand in Sri Lanka that has found its way to the Sri Lankan home to be linked to this powerful retail brand Lanka Sathosa which is rated 3.6 on the recent store Equity index and commands leadership in the mass market segment of business. Vavuniya which has a poverty of below 2.5% in Sri Lanka is the best place to launch this partnership, he said.
Maliban General Manager Marketing Ravi Jayewardene voiced, “We from the private sector see the strong thrust of the revamped Lanka Sathosa in the last outlet of months and have stepped out to support the organisation that reaches the mass market.” “We see the increased sales in our business and now must drive stronger in the festive season where biscuit is a key product bought as per Sri Lankan tradition.” Minister Bathiudeen personally thanked the private sector on behalf of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
The companies that have extended the support towards Lanka Sathosa Rs. 200 million are Unilever with brands like Sunlight, Lifebuoy, Lux, Nestle with brands like Nestomalt and Maggi, Reckitt Benckiser with brands like Harpic, Dettol and Mortein, Hemas with brands like Baby Cheramy, Diva, and Velvet, Alli brothers in the noodles category. In a strategic partnership with Mobitel and Dialog 15 million consumers were reached on the special prices of provisions like sugar at Rs. 87 and samba rice at Rs. 80 whilst during the festive season 127 promotions will be in offer in March and April, said Chairman Athukorala.
Maliban is the pioneer biscuit manufacturer of Sri Lanka. Incorporated 60 years ago by the visionary founder Angulugaha Gamage Hinnyappuhamy, Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Ltd. is Sri Lanka’s most trusted and respected brand. Maliban manufactures a range of crackers, cookies and wafers, sold in over 150,000 stores in Sri Lanka. “Our global reach extends to more than 35 countries across five continents. We produce 25 million packs of biscuits every month in our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility under stringent hygienic conditions, quipped Maliban GM Ravi Jayawardene.