Amco Trading introduces a range of food products

Amco Trading (Pvt) Limited has introduced a range of fast moving products such as mustard cream, noodles, soya sauce, salt, tomato sauce, mango and ambrella chutney, Basmati rice and a special rice for making biryani under the brand name Tiyoka to the market. Most of the products have been sourced from local producers.

Managing Director Raj Gooneratne said that importers broke into this market since there was a perception that local products were not up to standard, health and nutrition wise. This is a myth that was exploited by multi-national companies in Asian countries such as Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh.

Today, the small and medium scale manufacturers in Sri Lanka are very knowledgeable. They adhere to the highest standards in hygiene and nutrition. This has to be communicated to the right target audience, he said.

"When we select our local partners we apprise them of these factors. Although some of the producers stoop down to manufacture products of low standards to increase profits and to lower production costs we have advised them that we would give them fair prices for products of high standard and thereby they can increase their profits," Gooneratne said.

"We also guarantee and certify the quality of the products. Every product has to meet our self-imposed stringent quality standards.

Chief Operating Officer, Amco Trading, Thilak Weerasinghe said local producers have a bigger share of the market than imported products.

"We produce quality products, which are far superior to the imported stuff. The main task of Amco Trading is to uplift the standard of the small and medium scale manufacturer. We as a company are dedicated to improve and elevate the standards of hygiene, nutrition and goodness of local products and to apprise consumers that our national products of a high standard in comparison to imported products," said Gooneratne.