When spoken to, the majority of the SME’s indicate that their challenges are similar. They are struggling with access to market and access to finance. They  need guidance and support to overcome such obstacles. The Column “Your Community” addresses the need to create awareness, by sharing their compelling stories so that  potential customers out there can connect with them.

 

WCIC along with many partner organizations conducts continuous capacity building programmes for SMEs to gain knowledge of all aspects of business development. 

 

Your Community’ provides exposure to inspirational women entrepreneurs by sharing their story and making the world know how these courageous ladies are forging ahead. 

 

We feature this week an entrepreneur who has been supported by the WCIC in her journey.

 

 

I am Priyanka Pradeepa Kumari, a wife, mother and the owner of Priyanka Natural Foods.  My success is due to the confidence, and the trust I have in myself and the dedication and passion that drives my actions. 

 

My childhood dream was to become a teacher and empower future generations differently, providing them with a SMART toolkit to face any challenge. I completed my secondary education and pursued a course in accounting but couldn’t realise my academic dream. I chose to get married and start a family, yet my  burning desire to contribute to society in a meaningful manner still prevailed.

 

 

My desire to do something meaningful started taking shape when my “Dhoni” was born. The need to provide her with the best nutrition, just like all mothers want to, was 

 

 my priority.  Given the current life style we lead and the prevailing habits this was no 

easy task. 

 

I wanted to seek natural products, free from harmful chemicals, preservatives, additives etc,  however everything  around me  was far from safe. 

 

The period under review was 2008, and my business venture commenced with the intention of providing a natural, safe and  nutritious range of products to consumers. Priyanka Natural Foods Private Limited  came into being with a mandate to manufacture  healthy and tasty sauces, jams, chutneys, sambals, and other natural herbal products, using organically grown local ingredients.

 

The life span of a human being in a natural healthy environment can span around 100-120 years.  We have records of our ancestors who have reached those milestones living their life to the fullest. But today despite all the advancements in science, our average life span has dropped to 72-78 years, and rarely would you find someone completely healthy throughout this  period.

 

The food we consume and the life style we lead are the main reasons for the current predicament. The fact that the food we consume contains harmful chemicals, preservative, additives and flavouring  is no secret. It may  provide a temporary satisfaction to the taste buds but long lasting damage to our lives.  Available statistics indicate 15 -20% of the Sri Lankan population is suffering from noncommunicable  diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.  Childhood diabetes has increased and by 2030 it is estimated to rise to 13.7%. These indicators do not point in the direction of a healthy nation. 

 

An opportunity for me to make a difference evolved from the prevailing situation. I started by creating unique recipes enriched with herbs and traditional medicinal properties sourced from  remote villages across the country. Our products do not contain any artificial ingredients, preservatives and additives that are harmful. Our ancestors had a healthy life style consuming products that were natural and non toxic.  I believe even in today’s world this is possible;  that is  the premise of my business venture.

 

 

Entering an unknow territory I had to learn a lot and I sought the support of the Food Research Unit of the Department of Agriculture. Under  their guidance I did my first prototype - the Green Pepper Sauce in 2008. Subsequently, the technology related to the process was  transferred  from the Ministry of Technology & Research.  I then set out to obtain  an endorsement by a medical professional and reached out to Dr W A M Damayanti, the Traditional Medicine specialist at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura.  Subsequent to stringent screening she endorsed it for it’s  medicinal properties such as the ability  to  cleanse harmful toxins from the digestive system as well as for the taste parameters.

 

From there on I progressed  with my research, wanting to develop something unique which could  boost  immunity, cleanse toxins and provide nourishment.

 

 

 Healthy natural foods were becoming a buzz world slowly, the fact that the concept came with a higher price tag made life a bit complicated. Convincing someone to spend extra on products just because we were offering food safety was not easy. 

 

 It was a tight rope walk;  balancing the  purchasing power of the potential consumer and  yet encouraging them to reach out for what is good for them. Certification was a natural solution. I obtained the certification of the Sri Lanka Standards Institute in 2009.  It helped me to expand my reach and create greater presence at Trade Fairs & Exhibitions.

 

I got the opportunity to participate in an all-island competition organized by the Sri Lanka Industrial Development Board representing the SME category  where I was awarded the  Bronze Medal and the Gold Medal in the Western Province.  This allowed me to create more innovations such as the Tamarind Jam, which was exported to South Africa via the Export Development Board in 2010.

 

My initial marketing strategy of  promoting via trade fairs and exhibitions proved successful which made me pursue opportunities to increase my clientele. I participated at the Medicare exhibitions for several consecutive years, connecting with medical professionals from the western and traditional healthcare disciplines to test the health benefits of my produce. Today, many medical professionals are very comfortable recommending our products, eg. Cinnamon Bees Honey to mitigate Arthritis. 

 

 I felt it was important to reach out to the health conscious consumer  and  managed to get a presence at The Good Market. This enabled  me to reach out to a group which was already embracing the concept of healthy living with healthy eating. I have developed a loyal customer base who even during the pandemic and lock down still ordered products continuously. 

 

Business was thriving before the pandemic, as I had participated in approximately 15 trade shows and exhibitions per annum organized by various bodies such as the Sri Lanka Trade and Commerce Association, Sri Lanka Industrial Development Board and The Women’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce (WCIC). However, with the outbreak of COVID, I changed my game plan and sought  the online platform to support my business. My social media presence was heightened to engage and serve the consumer. 

 

Never let the change in environment control you. Navigate through stormy waters to find a way out.

 

 

Innovation was the key to my success. I created new products continuously using new recipes which had their foundation in natural health benefits.

 

 I researched continuously when creating new products with the of best local ingredients  that could elevate nutritional levels. When expanding my product range my primary focus was to provide the  consumer with  healthy alternatives  to be  used to prevent chronic illnesses. Products such as Garlic Bee Honey Mix, Cinnamon Bee Honey Mix, Lemongrass Bees Honey, etc have been embraced by both local and international consumers as they are proven to reduce  high blood sugar levels.   Lemon & Ginger Bees Honey mix is known to cleanse the heart and boosts  energy levels , herbs such as lunuwila are said to enhance memory power whilst acting as a natural deworming treatment. These medical portions have been created by researching all local medicines and techniques from ancient Sinhala and Tamil traditional medicinal recipes.

 

Yet another innovative product is the sweet potato flour and manioc flour that can be used as a substitute to wheat flour. These are healthy alternatives which do not have the baggage that refined wheat has. But the issue is that the process is complicated and costly. Therefore the end products can be a bit steep. It is a choice you make to ensure you consume food that brings no harm.

 

I have concentrated on the emerging needs of the new generation who are becoming more health conscious and are attracted to super foods. We have created natural supplements inclusive of Elengi oil, Dates and Bees Honey that can be used as an alternative to whey protein supplements consumed by the gym enthusiast. 

 

 We have also experimented in the non-food, personal care space. We offer a range of hair and herbal oils which can enhance  natural hair growth and prevent premature greying.