The Sunday Times FT - Many uses of coconut for world markets

Having done Sri Lanka proud for over a century in the international arena, one particular business establishment took yet another consumer-friendly step, this time in the local market.

The history of Renuka Group can be traced to 1866, while the group has been in the food business since 1975.

Today the food business of Renuka has expanded, providing direct employment to 520 people and indirect to over 2500 farmer families. Renuka produces a variety of over 160 products to suit the taste of customers in more than 52 countries around the globe.“We are the leading brand for coconut products in the Netherlands, the Maldives, and make up almost 50 percent of the market in the United Kingdom. Renuka deals with international supermarket chains such as Sainsbury and Tesco, and also actively participates in most of the organic and food exhibitions around the world,” says Hemal Dias, Head of Local Retail and General Manager, International Marketing Coco Lands Ltd, a subsidiary under the Renuka Group.

Having successfully served the international market for many years, “the coconut specialist” displayed to the media, a range of quality coconut products into the local market at Coco Lands Ltd, Wathupitiwela, last week.

With the coconut industry coming into the limelight recently after the establishment of the Ministry of Coconut Development as a part of the ‘Mahinda Chinthana,’ the Renuka Group plans to take the cause to heart and introduce a range of convenient coconut products to consumers.

Coconut milk powder both, canned coconut milk, both full cream and low fat, and desiccated coconut being the products launched, the primary difference between Renuka and numerous other products in the market is the fact that there is absolutely no artificial preservatives and flavourings. The products carry a very clear community message for the consumer as well.

With the coconut tree considered the tree of life, the Renuka Group showcases this reality by using the white coconut kernel to process premium food products for the international market. For instance the husk, shell, parings, white meat and water, are all components that have varied uses ranging from food to non-food items and from industrial to household purposes. Other parts of coconuts are made into edibles and ingredients for confectioners, chefs and homemakers the world over, in their preparation for pastries, chocolates, desserts and numerous authentic Asian dishes.

“Sri Lanka produces almost 2.5 billion coconuts, annually of which 70% or 1.7 billion nuts are used for domestic consumption. Available research shows that the domestic wastage of coconuts in Sri Lanka is as high as 40%.

This will also help minimize wastage, save coconuts for the local industry and help our country earn valuable foreign exchange,” said Shamindra Rajiyah, Director Marketing, explaining the message typed out on each product.

“The foundation of the food business has been agriculture. The company is firmly committed to sustainable agriculture and making Sri Lanka a preferred destination for processed Agro based food and Beverages, while being the number one for Coconut based food and Beverages,” he added.

Coco Lands Ltd was recently awarded ISO 22000 by Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) for its BOI project located at the Wathupitiwela EPZ which manufactures and exports value added coconut based food and beverages.

This is the first time a certificate has been issued by SLSI accredited by RvA (Dutch Accreditation Council) Netherlands. ISO 22000 standard delivers a common global framework of safety requirements for all organizations in the food supply chain, including crop production, processing, distribution, and related operations. It is an international standard that incorporates all seven HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) principles and implementation plans.

The group has continuously invested and upgraded its technology and Coco Lands Ltd at present is the world’s most technologically advanced coconut based food manufacturing facility.

The company’s backward integration has resulted in Kandy Plantations Limited, owning and/ or managing an extent of over 3500 acres of organic certified coconut land, intercropped with fruits and Spices. The company was one of the first in Sri Lanka to enter into Organic farming (not accounting for tea) in 1989.