THE ISLAND ONLINE – Nestlé Lanka yesterday reaffirmed its commitment towards Sri Lanka by investing over INR2 billion in its state-of-the-art factory in Kurunegala by building a new Vacuum Band Dryer (VBD).
Aimed at expanding the capacity of its manufacturing facility for malted food, this investment would further strengthen the company’s efforts of positively impacting Sri Lanka and its people.
The new VBD will increase the production capacity of two of its biggest brands – Nestlé Nestomalt and Milo, allowing the Company to explore the opportunity of expanding its exports to several new markets, beyond the 50 countries it is currently serving.
Nestlé Lanka’s Kurunegala factory manufactures over 90 per cent of Nestlé products sold in the country, employing strict quality controls.
Aged 115 years, the ‘Good food, Good life’ company has become an integral part of Sri Lankan lives and contributes to the livelihoods of more than 25,000 Sri Lankan dairy and coconut farmers and out-growers and provides direct employment to over 800. Over the past five years, the company has consistently invested in the country, amounting to over INR6.6 billion.
First of its kind in the local food and beverage industry, the Swiss-designed Vacuum Band Dryer adopts the latest technology and helps the company deliver more of its much-loved brands – Nestlé Nestomalt and Nestlé Milo enriched with iron and vitamin D.
An event was held at Nestlé Lanka’s Kurunegala factory yesterday to mark the inauguration of this project, by laying the foundation stone of the building which would house the new VBD.
The event was attended by Minister of Industries and Plantations Dr Ramesh Pathirana; Swiss Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Dominik Furgler; Member of Parliament Anura Priyadarshanayapa and Director General of the Board of Investments Renuka Weerakone along with officials from Nestlé Lanka.
