Cargills empowers rural SMEs through Village to Home programme
View(s):A visit to Cargills Food City Pelawatte last weekend would have been a unique experience for any shopper. The Food City outlet was home to several small local businesses, all eager to showcase their products to the extensive customer base of Cargills, the company said in a media release.
This event, called Cargills Village to Home, is a unique programme initiated by Cargills to support small businesses by connecting them directly to the market. The 32nd edition of the programme held on March 22nd and 23rd, saw several entrepreneurs showcasing a wide array of products, ranging from handicrafts to traditional homemade sweets. It also featured Avurudu (Sinhala & Tamil New Year) games and activities, creating a lively shopping atmosphere for customers.
A key feature of the Village to Home programme is the opportunity it provides for small local businesses to set up monthly trade stalls at Cargills Food City outlets free of charge. Cargills covers all associated event expenses, including transport and logistics, allowing entrepreneurs to retain all income earned through the programme. SMEs that demonstrate significant growth are given the opportunity to become listed suppliers at Cargills Food City, gaining access to markets across 540 locations. Additionally, Cargills Bank plays a vital role in supporting these entrepreneurs by offering banking services such as accounts, loans, card services, and financial literacy training.
Speaking at the event, Ranjit Page, Deputy Chairman of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, reflected on the significance of the programme: “When markets were shut down during the pandemic, we thought about how best to support those who were most affected, especially small businesses. Cargills reached out to SMEs from different parts of the country and created the Village to Home programme to connect small entrepreneurs with our customer base. We created space for them to earn an income, with no additional cost to the SME, and Cargills does not earn any income from this programme.”
“This opportunity has been life-changing for us,” said one local entrepreneur, whose family-run business has grown significantly since joining the Village to Home programme.
Dr. Dushni Weerakoon, Senior Economist and Executive Director of the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), and also an Independent Director of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC, was among those present at the Village to Home programme in Pelawatte, offering encouragement to the SMEs.
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