’Cargills: Village to Home’ to uplift local entrepreneurs

An initiative with a vision 

‘Cargills: Village to Home’ is an initiative created by Cargills to provide the budding local small and medium scale entrepreneurs with a platform to showcase their wide range of products and engage with a wider network of customers. The initiative provides the entrepreneurs with demarcated stalls outside the Food City premises to introduce their products to customers and sell them directly. 

The ‘Village to Home’ was previously held at Kandana, Pelawatte and Malabe branches last year. When the COVID-19 pandemic resurged last October, the initiative had to be put on hold. But Cargills resumed the Village to Home initiative at Rawathawatta Food City outlet on 6 February this year. Understanding the risks involved in organising an event of this scale, Cargills team assured that all the necessary health and safety guidelines were strictly adhered to. Thus, the event ‘Village to Home’ at Rawathawatta Cargills Food City outlet was a huge success and commended by the people. 

Organisers said that the thinking behind this initiative was to broaden the reach of our local small and medium enterprises by giving them a market place. “We also look to further improve their livelihoods by sharing our expertise in packaging, marketing and quality assurance. Cargills Bank will continue to provide financial support to SME entrepreneurs, helping them to grow and serve a larger market,” the Cargills team said.

A stepping stone for entrepreneurs

“We have always strengthened and uplifted the small and medium scale entrepreneurs throughout our journey. This initiative intends to give an opportunity for new local businesses or local producers who want to enter the market anew,” said Cargills Foods Company Ltd. 

Managing Director Asoka Pieris. He said that he thanked the Government ministries and institutions for connecting them with the local businesses. “Before the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic we were expecting to hold this event every week at different outlets but we were unable to do this,” he added. When questioned as to how budding entrepreneurs could get an opportunity to showcase their products in future, Pieris said those who intended to introduce their local products could contact any Food City outlet or Cargills Bank and get the opportunity. 

According to Pieris, the local products are given more priority than the foreign products as the aim is to strengthen the SME entrepreneurs. ‘Cargills: Village to Home’ is another giant step which ensures that SME entrepreneurs are further strengthened. He said, “We are planning to gradually extend this initiative at a provincial level too.”

Commenting on the event, Cargills Ceylon PLC Group Manager – Agri Business Haridas Fernando said, “There are a lot of local products which have not entered the market and are not in supermarkets. This is a good opportunity for those producers to meet customers and identify their needs. Thus, they become aware of how their businesses should be developed. The Cargills Bank is also affiliated with this initiative and extends its full support in terms of providing advice and granting loans for the entrepreneurs. Today, most of the small businesses are in need of financial assistance. Besides, many entrepreneurs do not have market opportunities to sell their products. But Village to Home has provided that opportunity. Now with the trust and assurance of a market place to sell products through events of this scale, the entrepreneurs are able to seek assistance from the Cargills Bank that is ready to offer financial assistance according to the needs of the customers. Fernando said, “Through this initiative, we mainly aim to create a marketplace for the rural local producers to bring their products and sell them to customers in the city. Though they do not have a direct opportunity to sell their products in supermarkets, through this initiative they understand the market trends and customer needs while becoming more aware of the market opportunities.”

Voices of entrepreneurs

Sharing thoughts on the Village to Home event, ‘Hela Rasa’ owner Nayana Priyangani said, “We are grateful that we were given this opportunity to sell our products on a platform of this nature. We can directly interact with customers and become aware of customer needs.” Hela Rasa sells food products made from honey, garlic, dates and other traditional spices.

Another creative producer, Pasan Nanayakkara whose brand name is ‘Empower Creations’ said, “Becoming an entrepreneur is great. I have designed ornaments and oil lamps in different shapes purely out of cement. Even without talent for art I created these. But still, they look great. What if those who have talent for art started a venture like this? Surely, the outcome will be incredible. Besides, I derive a lot of pleasure for what I have done. As a counsellor, one of my intentions is to keep people happy, especially the elderly. My initial plan is to put by 10% of what I earn as profits from this small business, so that I can use that money to help the elderly in different ways.” 

The owner of ‘Sagarika products’ Sagaree Kamalasiri said, “My parents started this business 30 years ago and I have been in this business for 20 years. The products I have showcased today are made out of rush, ranging from carpets to table mats. I am grateful for getting this opportunity in a context where many businesses are adversely affected due the pandemic. We have a difficulty reaching the customer but this opportunity is great.”

Horana’s Chryshantha Veththasinghe who runs a traditional business called ‘Samadhi Handicrafts’ said it was a great opportunity for him to sell local traditional masks and other wood-related products on the Village to Home platform. He said it was foreigners to whom he sold his products previously. “Because of the pandemic, we do not have much profits,” he said.