Cargills among ‘Most Admired Companies’ for 2nd consecutive year

Cargills is humbled to have been selected as one of the ‘Top 10 Most Admired Companies of Sri Lanka’ by CIMA, ICCSL and the Daily FT, for the second consecutive year. This recognition is a testament to the resilience of the Cargills business model in the face of the pandemic, as it continues to grow by placing the needs of the community first. Cargills’ philosophy has always been based on the belief that by focusing on community development, the balance sheet looks after itself. 

As an essential service provider and a leading food company, Cargills continued to meet the needs of the consumers during the pandemic. Its reach and impact went beyond serving its consumers. At a time when many farmers across the country were left without a marketplace, Cargills provided a guaranteed market for thousands of farmers and supported their livelihoods, while ensuring that not a single ounce of milk went to waste as it increased the fresh milk collection rate to 180,000 litres per day. During the 2020/21 Financial Year alone, Cargills generated direct income over Rs. 9 billion to the dairy and agriculture farming community in Sri Lanka. Realising the challenges faced by small entrepreneurs in the aftermath of the first lockdown last year, Cargills launched an initiative called ‘Village to Home’ in September 2020, with a vision to provide local entrepreneurs a platform to engage with a larger market. In addition to supporting them with packaging, marketing, and quality assurance, the Cargills Bank provided low-cost financing to help increase their capacity.

By sourcing most of the raw materials locally and producing value-added consumer foods that compete with global brands, Cargills plays an important role in saving foreign exchange for the country. The food brands have become leading national brands due to its focus on quality and innovation. In spite of the challenging operating environment that prevailed during the last 18 months, Cargills continued to make investments across all business verticals and across the country. In total, the Cargills Group made Rs. 6.4 billion in capital investments during the 2020/21 Financial Year. It reflects Cargills’ belief in Sri Lanka’s ability to overcome the current challenges and rise again stronger than ever before. As a leading Sri Lankan corporate, Cargills stands ready to continue its investments, impacting community development and driving value for all stakeholders.

This recognition was only possible due to the Cargills team, who continue to serve the needs of the community even during the most challenging of times. During the pandemic, Cargills’ primary duty was to protect its team and ensure their emotional, physical, and financial well-being. In addition to providing the necessary support and building confidence of the team, it has also taken steps to ensure the team was vaccinated. Over 98% of the Cargills team, which consists of over 12,000 members, have been vaccinated to date.

Cargills’ farmers and suppliers played a pivotal role in helping it meet the consumers’ needs. In a statement, Cargills said: “We would like to thank them and assure that Cargills will stand by our partners at all times. Our sincere appreciation to our consumers, who continue to support and believe in us. As one of the oldest and most trusted companies in the country with a heritage of 177 years, Cargills will continue to stay true to its core values of providing affordable nutrition and serving our communities across Sri Lanka.”