Rs. 1.1 b Nestle rice noodle plant to serve convenient-foods hungry Sri Lanka

Thursday, 12 January 2012 00:37 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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.