Ross Dairies acquires Watawala’s fresh milk arm Lonach

Ross Dairies Managing Director Afzal Marikar (right) and Sunshine Holdings Group Managing Director Vish Govindasamy engaged in the handover of ownership of Lonach

Ross Dairies has recently acquired the Watawala Plantations PLC’s fresh milk arm Watawala Dairy, which operates the ‘Pride of Lonach’ brand of pasteurised farm fresh milk.

The ownership, management, distribution and production of the brand has been formally transferred to Ross Dairies effective 16 September 2022.

A subsidiary of the Conmix Group of Companies, Ross Dairies has owned and operated a model farm with Australian heifer cows in the Matale District since 2017.

Ross Dairies milk is manufactured to the highest international dairy standards whilst strictly adhering to a ‘No Artificial Additives’ policy; thereby ensuring the milk remains fresh and creamy whilst retaining its nutritional goodness consistently at optimum levels. 

In 2020, Ross Dairies launched a premium pasteurised flavoured milk brand, ‘Moo Premium Pasteurised Milk’. 

Together with its pasteurised fresh milk, both products have been made available to consumers in sustainable packaging formats in order to provide a premium alternative to local and imported products.

Ross Dairies is one of the few farms in Sri Lanka selected by Market Oriented Dairy (MOD – a project funded by the United States Department of Agriculture) as a model farm and training centre; a testament to the commitment and uncompromising dedication to quality that is adhered to by the Ross Dairies brand.

With the acquisition of ‘Pride of Lonach’, Ross Dairies will now meet consumer demands for both products through its Kadawatha Milk Processing Centre, utilising one distribution channel that will cater to its premium consumer base through supermarkets, cafes and mini marts. 

Ross Dairies will be re-launching the exclusive home delivery network for consumers which is available to the Colombo District at the inception and will gradually expand to other parts of the Western Province.

The range of products currently on offer by Ross Dairies are: Lonach Full Cream Milk, Lonach Low Fat Milk, Lonach Gee and Moo Premium Pasteurised Milk.

Ross Dairies plans to expand its distribution network and product line in the near future ensuring Sri Lankan consumers of the highest quality in international dairy standards available in the domestic market.