Cargills Food City opens its 500th outlet, affirms its commitment to revitalise local economy

* Sources fresh fruits and vegetables from a network of over 5,000 farmers

* Contributes over 14% of the national milk production

* Expanding network generates thousands of livelihood opportunities

by Sanath Nanayakkare

The home-grown Sri Lankan brand, Cargills Food City, marked another milestone yesterday with the opening of its 500th retail outlet in Akuregoda, Pelawatte.

The unveiling of the large retail outlet was attended by Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe (chief guest), Deputy Chairman of Cargills Group, Ranjit Page and a host of distinguished guests representing both public and private sectors.

Notably, a book illustrating the Company’s bold and dynamic 39-year journey was presented to the Central Bank Governor at the event.

By benchmarking itself against international supermarkets, Cargills FoodCity has set the bar high for others that follow in its footsteps, while its success served to attract more investors into the sector.

Being present in all 25 districts, Cargills Food City has introduced the supermarket experience to all Sri Lankans, beyond urban and beyond elite class.

To date, Cargills is the only supermarket to operate in the North and East being a sustenance for all Sri Lankans, offering the lowest prices in the country.

Cargills Early Childhood Education Programme has positively impacted over 8,000 children, giving them a stable foundation for their future.

The company recently stepped up its humanitarian efforts with their Community Meals Programme initiated in partnership with the Lasallian Community Education Services. This programme has already delivered over 3,300 nourishing meals to people in underprivileged urban areas.

Cargills Food City has encouraged entrepreneurship across the country by showcasing local brands, many of whom have up-scaled their businesses and are confident about the company’s backing. The Company has supported many small and medium enterprises and has helped them create new categories with innovations.

It ensures that the freshest and most hygienic products adhere to the highest quality benchmarks. Through this strategy, Cargills Food City 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 lower price. The Gates’ Foundation also declared Cargills’ value proposition being a model worth emulating, shining a light on efforts on a global scale.

Today, Cargills is the single largest collector of fresh produce, sourcing fresh fruits and vegetables from a network of over 5,000 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.

This outlet 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.