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| Sunday, 15 August 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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'Supers' islandwide Supermarket network managed by leading local companies such as Cargills, Laugfs Lanka and John Keells are establishing their supermarket outlets all over the island. It is evident that they are popular among the customers in the cities as well as in the towns. All sorts of commercial gimmicks including TV and print media advertisements competitions, prizes, discount rates are being offered to attract customers to these supermarkets. Advertising billings of some campaigns seem to be more than millions of rupees. The "Food City" supermarket chain managed by Cargills expect to increase their supermarket outlets upto one hundred within the next five months before the end of this year. The expected investment for this project is Rs. 1.5 billion. Fifty seven "Food City" supermarkets are in operation now operative all over the island including Colombo Fort, (Bambalapitiya, Dematagoda, Homagama and Avissawella.) The newest "Food City" supermarket will be inaugurated next week in Anuradhapura. The three-year plan of Cargills which has a proud history of 159 years is to have 500 supermarkets islandwide. 'Our aim is to supply day-to-day requirements to the customer at a fair price ensuring the freshness of the goods bought,' a spokesman for Cargills Ceylon Ltd. said. Cargills has established a direct link with the producers, farmers and fishermen. Fresh items such as vegetables, fruits and various agricultural produce and fish are purchased directly from the farmer and fishery community paying them fair and acceptable prices. The Laugfs Group of companies which claims 25% of the LP Gas market in Sri Lanka, introduced their network of supermarkets four years ago beginning with Thimbirigasyaya 'Laugfs Sun-up' Supermarket. Seven 'Sun-up Supermarkets' are in operation today including Orugodawatte, Wellawatte, Borella and Kotahena. It is expected to increase the number of supermarkets upto 20 within a period of twelve months and Kaduwela, Mabima and Koswatte 'Laugfs Sun-ups' will be inaugurated before the end of this year. "We were able to change the Supermarket culture in Sri Lanka operating round the clock at Thimbirigasyaya 'Laugfs Sun-up' from its inception in 2000," Chairman of Laugfs Group of Companies W. K. H. Wegapitiya said. "Upto that date all supermarkets in Sri Lanka had been opened upto 9.30 p.m. Customers had no way to buy their requirements - even medicine - after 9.30 p.m. during those times. Our vision is to give customer a helping hand and to soften the rigours of shopping so our speciality is round-the-clock operation. Fuel, gas, medicine, fruit, vegetables, cloth or any other customer items can be purchased in our supermarkets at a fair price," W. K. H. Wegapitiya - Chairman Laugf's Group said. Business in honour to customers as well as to suppliers, the Director-in-charge, "Keells Super" supermarket chain of John Keells Holdings Sumithra Gunasekera, said. Modern retail business is customer-focus business. It carries a value for customers. "Keells Super" supplies high-quality food, meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and various customer requirements at fair prices for them, Sumitra Gunasekera - Director John Keells Holdings, said. It is expected to increase the number of supermarkets to 50 within the period covering the next two years. "Keells Super" supermarkets are in business very successfully in the heart of Colombo - Crescat, Galle Face, Union Place, as well as suburban towns including Wattala and Nugegoda. L. S. A. Wedaarachchi. |
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