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A ‘Fab’ celebration
By Hiranthi Fernando
Twenty-five years ago, on May 2, The Fab pastry shop opened its doors. It had twelve employees. Today The Fab has seven outlets and a workforce of 350. With a reputation for supplying quality products, over the years The Fab has won several culinary awards, particularly for wedding cake structures.

The force behind it is Ms. Chandra Madanayake, Managing Director of Fab Foods Pvt., Ltd. Ms. Madanayake hails from a business oriented family. Her father, the late A.G. Wickramapala was a founder member and Director of Maliban. Her mother, who had a great talent for cookery, was involved in making confectionary items. Initially the items were sold at Maliban outlets. Later, as the demand grew, the products were sold under the label Sundale.

Herself a talented cook, Ms. Madanayake tried out various dishes, which were much appreciated by her husband and three children. She would also make cakes and shorteats for her friends' birthday parties.

After a while, she took the bold step of embarking on The Fab, in the belief that she should make use of her talent to reach out to more people. "With the opening of the economy in the late ’70s, a number of international hotels were established in Colombo, supplying cakes and pastries at a high price." She saw an opportunity to supply a product equal or better than that of the five star hotels, at affordable prices.

And so, in the front garden of their house bordering Galle Road at Kollupitiya, the original Fab outlet was built. The architect, the late K. Ganeshan, was instrumental in selecting the name and Mrs. Madanayake believes it has brought them luck.

"Initially it was a coffee shop where the food was prepared in front of the customers, which was a novelty," she said. Thereafter, a family restaurant was added. Although this was a success it was discontinued because with three small children, it was too demanding on her time. Cakes, gateaux, and pastries thus, became their core business.

Ms. Madanayake says that when she started The Fab, the field was dominated by male chefs attached to five-star hotels. She broke the barriers, proving that a Sri Lankan product could match or surpass its international counterpart. "I remember it was with so much excitement that the Black Forest gateau was introduced," she reminisced.

In the future, the company aims to relocate its production facility to Ratmalana. There have also been several requests for outlets in Kandy and Negombo and these are being considered.

Anniversary celebrations will be held this month, starting with religious observances. These will include in-house activities for the staff and community activities in children's homes and elders' homes.

"I was fortunate to have a great team to work with from the inception," Mrs. Madanayake said. “This laid a strong foundation for the business and with time many talented young people have joined us.” Her daughter Roshi too, having given up an accounting career, is now actively involved in the business. "It gives me great pleasure to watch her taking over," says her proud mother.

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