‘Lankasoy’ celebrates 25 years of quality products in Sri Lanka
View(s):Convenience Foods Lanka PLC (CFL), the pioneer in manufacturing and marketing soya based products in Sri Lanka, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary while felicitating employees who have completed 25 years of service. CFL manufactures and distributes the renowned soya products brand ‘Lankasoy’ in Sri Lanka and in overseas markets.
CBL Group chairman Ramya Wickramasingha (third from left), felicitating employees who completed 25 years of service. Also in the picture is Thilanka De Soyza, Managing Director of CFL.
The company was incorporated in Sri Lanka in 1990 as a subsidiary of Forbes and Walker Limited. It was listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange as ‘Soy Foods F&W Ltd’ as a public listed company. The company introduced Textured Vegetable Protein, a nontraditional food item to the local market. Textured Vegetable Protein better known as TVP or soya meat, soon gained popularity among consumers and became a nutritious tasteful addition to the daily meals, according to a media release issued by the company.
The company initially sold its products in bulk packages but later it also introduced a range of retail sized soya packs leading to the inception of one of the most prominent brands in Sri Lanka today, ‘Lanksoy’. Having realized the potential of the company, Ceylon Biscuits Ltd (CBL) acquired the majority of shares of the company in 2000.
Sharing the vision of CBL, the company rapidly began to convert losses into profits. Lankasoy’s introduction of new shapes and flavours has led to greater acceptance of the brand and revolutionalized the soya market thereby changing the perception, expanding the market potential for the product. The goodness of TVP was highlighted in attractive packs and introduced to the market as Malu Soy, Chico Soy and Vegi Soy. Drawing on CBL’s expertise in innovation, marketing and distribution, Soy Foods Lanka Limited rapidly re-gained its market leadership and has flourished ever since.
The company invested heavily in technology and in 2004, it invested in automated packaging and modernized the factory to enhance the quality of the products. Having secured the market leadership in the Soya category, the company realized the need for diversification. The company was renamed as ‘Convenience Foods Lanka PLC (CFL) expanded its offering under the brand names ‘Lankasoy’, ‘Ramba’ snacks, ‘Rasahari’ noodles, ‘Rasahari’ Soups and ‘Nutriline’ Cereal.
Company Managing Director Thilanka De Soyza stated, “Our vision is to introduce many innovative new products focusing on consumer requirement further upgrading state of the art technology in our factory”.