Suresh Shah appointed Chairman of Providore.shop

Suresh Kumar Shah, one of Sri Lanka’s most respected corporate leaders, has been appointed as the Founding Chairman of grocery-tech platform Providore.shop.

Suresh Kumar Shah

Providore.shop is an online grocery and household products marketplace, carrying daily essentials, fresh produce, meats and seafood, everyday supermarket items, premium imported selections, ready-to-eat meals and specialty artisan products. Unlike many online businesses, which are an extension of brick-and-mortar operations or are delivery platforms that use third party delivery services and with no backend infrastructure, Providore.shop is a dedicated and focused online only business with a fully integrated backend, including its own delivery fleet. This ensures delivering superior quality and a seamless service in terms of food hygiene and safety, order fulfilment, product quality and timely delivery.  

The company said the appointment of Shah as Chairman brings a wealth of knowledge and business acumen to Providore.shop, adding focus and strategy to the leadership team, as the business continues to grow and expand into adjacent verticals. 

Shah is renowned for his leadership and unwavering commitment to good governance. He served as the Founding CEO/Director of Lion Brewery Ceylon PLC and continues to sit on the Board of its parent, Carson Cumberbatch PLC. He currently serves as Chairman of Ceylon Tobacco Company PLC and on the boards of other public and private companies. He is a former Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and of the Employers Federation of Ceylon. 

Providore.shop’s founders include Sri Lankan cricketing legends Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena, as well as successful corporates and entrepreneurs from IT, F&B and Hospitality, Retail and Financial Services industries.

Working with selected suppliers to source quality fresh produce, groceries and household products, Providore.shop stores and processes orders in a dedicated 20,000 sq ft temperature-controlled fulfilment centre, under the strictest health and safety guidelines. They also have their own cold chain transport delivery fleet operated by trained customer service agents.

Their emphasis on technology brings best-in-class convenience and superior customer experience to Sri Lanka’s online shopping. With functionality such as real-time stock visibility (guaranteeing availability if showing as ‘in stock’), order scheduling up to four weeks in advance, Express two-hour deliveries, using the easily configurable ‘My Shopping List’ for a quick shop when ordering the same products frequently, multiple payment options and a dedicated delivery fleet, the Providore.shop experience promises customers quality and service like no other.

Carrying almost 1,600 products and growing, Providore.shop carries a wide array of local and international brands across groceries and household, perfumes, personal care, cleaning equipment, health and wellness, gift categories and more. Wanting to support artisans and small batch manufacturers, Providore.shop provides them a platform to sell their products.