Top CEAT dealers showered with awards and gifts at Kandalama weekend

The revolutionary impact its products have had on Sri Lanka’s tyre market was the focus when the country’s highest-selling tyre brand CEAT, honoured top dealers for their contributions in sales performance to growth in 2012.

A gala, two-day event at Heritance Kandalama saw 68 awards being presented to the cream of Sri Lanka’s tyre retailers, who were also showered with valuable gifts including air tickets, the latest smart phones, digital cameras and weekends at star-class hotels.

In a video message played at the start of the awards presentation, CEAT Kelani Holdings Chairman Chanaka de Silva reported that the company had achieved domestic sales in excess of Rs. 7 billion in 2012 and exports of Rs 2.1 billion.

Noting that the company’s performance was in the face of difficult local conditions, including higher costs of production inputs, he said the loyalty and hard work of CEAT dealers had been a key contributor to growth.

“The year ahead will be a challenging one, but we are confident that CEAT will continue to be a winner with your support,” de Silva said. He also introduced the incoming Managing Director/CEO Raman Rajagopalan.

In his address, Rajagopalan said the CEAT brand had achieved a dominant 54% share in the truck/light truck category, is the market leader in the radial category with a 19% market share, has a dominant 40 % market share in the three-wheeler segment and has secured 16% of the market for motor cycle tyres in the year under review.

“Our leadership position in Sri Lanka is driven by three important factors,” Raman said. “First, we have a great brand driven by R&D support from CEAT India and a sophisticated production facility in Sri Lanka manned by the best in the Industry. Second, we have long standing dealers, who are loyal and have been supporting the brand in many ways. Third, customer confidence is very high with CEAT. We have constantly improved the quality and performance of our products to give better tyres to our customers.”

A global tyre brand present in 110 countries; CEAT’s credentials are built on performance. A National Business Excellence Award winner in 2010, 2011, and 2012, CEAT Kelani Holdings is an Indo-Sri Lanka joint venture between the RPG Group of India and Kelani Tyre, Sri Lanka. The company operates three manufacturing units manufacturing truck, light truck, radial, motorcycle, three-wheeler and agricultural tyres and employs a workforce of 1,000 people.