From left to right: Bandula Egodage, Nestlé Vice President - Corporate Affairs & Communications; José Roldán, Nestlé Vice President - Supply Chain; Shivani Hegde, Nestlé Managing Director; and Dr. Harsha De Silva, State Minister of National Policies and Economic Affairs 

Nestlé continued its winning streak at the recently held Presidential Export Awards, bagging the ‘Highest Foreign Exchange Earner’ award in the Coconut Kernel product category. This marks the seventh Presidential Export Award for the company in recognition of its strong contribution to national exports, and efforts to create sustainable livelihoods for local coconut growers and farm workers.  

Nestlé Lanka is one of the world’s largest exporters of coconut milk powder. The product is exported to over 50 countries, and is sold locally under the Maggi brand. It is manufactured in Nestlé’s state-of-the-art factory in Kurunegala, where the company procures around 90 million Sri Lankan coconuts every year; providing a livelihood to more than 6,000 local coconut farming families.

Said José Roldán, Vice President - Supply Chain at Nestlé: “The Presidential Export Awards is the highest form of recognition given to exporters in Sri Lanka.  We’re proud to have leveraged a Sri Lankan staple like coconut to develop a world-leading product, and are honoured to accept this award in recognition of our success. Our efforts have made Sri Lankan coconut milk powder one of the most sought after in the world; offering superior taste and quality.”    

Nestlé pioneered coconut milk powder manufacturing in the 1980s and continues to invest in the local industry. Its Nestlé Coconut Plan was launched in 2016 in collaboration with the Coconut Cultivation Board. The Plan supports farmers to grow coconut commercially and also outgrowers to cultivate coconut in their home gardens for domestic use. The programme works with people within the traditional coconut triangle and also in new experimental areas in the North-Central and Northern provinces. Since its inception, the Nestlé Coconut Plan has provided 3,000 farmers and outgrowers almost 20,000 coconut plantlets of a special hybrid variety, which is more resilient with a faster yield. Programme participants also receive regular training, resources, and agronomical support, and are able to benchmark best practices via model farms set up by Nestlé. 

From left to right: Sathya Goonasekera, Nestlé Assistant Manager - Supply Planning; Rajiv Dharmarajah, Nestlé Senior Executive - Procurement; Satish Daswani, Nestlé Assistant Manager - Exports; ShivaniHegde, Nestlé Managing Director; José Roldán, Nestlé Vice President - Supply Chain; Lakshika Weeramundage, Nestlé Senior Manager - Exports; Panchadcharam Sathiyenthra, Nestlé Head of Procurement; Sujeewa Pinto, Nestlé Assistant Manager - Customer Services; and Dhanushke Ramanayake, Nestlé Manager – Procurement 

Said Shivani Hegde, Nestlé Managing Director: “We are honoured to be recognised once again for our contribution to the exports sector and for the work we do in enhancing the lives of people throughout our value chain. We’re helping local suppliers improve their quality standards and empowering farmers to grow crops that benefit them. Our objective is to build thriving resilient communities; and help rural communities earn a sustainable income that will benefit them and their families, whilst securing coconut supply for the generations ahead. We strongly believe that any investment we make should not just be good for the company but for the country too, and we’re proud to be upholding this in all that we do.”  

The Presidential Export Awards is an annual event that recognises and awards companies that have made a significant contribution to the exports sector. It is organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board. Previous awards won by Nestlé include ‘Highest Value Added Exporter in the Coconut Kernel Product category’ in 2017, ‘Best Multinational Company (MNC) engaged in Exports’ in 2014 and 2015, ‘Best Exporter of the Coconut & Coconut Based Product Sector’ in 2013 and 2010, and ‘Best Exporter of the Food & Other Beverages Product Sector’ in 2011. 

A Nestlé Coconut Farmer   

Maggi Coconut Milk Powder Export Range