Coco Lanka making coconut affordable to the common man

A range of convenient coconut products such as coconut milk powder, canned coconut milk and desiccated coconut has been introduced to the market by Coco Lanka Plc with the goal of making these products affordable to the common man.

Director of Marketing, Shamindra Rajiyah said that the price of coconuts in the local market increases drastically, placing a heavy burden on the local consumer.

This has been the case in the past and consumers are facing the same situation today. "Thus, our intention by getting consumers to buy our coconut products is that apart from getting the best Sri Lankan coconuts, they are saving coconuts for a national industry and the country to earn income," he said.

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

Coco Lanka is hoping to reduce the wastage by using a truly 'made in Sri Lanka' coconut product which will help minimize wastage, save coconuts for the local industry and help the country earn valuable foreign exchange. According to the Ministry of Coconut Development, in Sri Lanka's competing coconut nations such as Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia, a far greater percentage of its local population buy coconut milk powder or canned coconut milk, thereby making coconuts more available for their industries.

A Coco Lanka spokesperson said that the removal of VAT and import of duty free packing material will make products more economical and encourage consumption. In turn, this is expected to save coconuts as domestic wastage will decrease.

The Coco Lanka Group has three coconut manufacturing facilities and is accredited with HACCP, ISO22000 and BRC certifications. Among them is a modern coconut processing facility built three years ago by Danish company, APV Denmark.

Coco Lanka states that all its factories are equipped with laboratories constructed according to international standards to test its products. The company also has a centralized research and development facility dedicated to coconut. It supplies consumer in over 52 countries with fully traceable products, guaranteeing consumers quality management. Even its raw material have been properly grown, handled and stored prior to arriving at the factories. Coco Lanka is a subsidiary of the Renuka Group. (NG)