PC Pharma partners with dairy giant Lactalis, brings Celia to local market

PC Pharma Limited expands its horizons in the local market by introducing the Lactalis range of infant food products Celia at a media conference today. A product of the global dairy giant Lactalis, Celia is set to enter the local market with its superior quality products that offer, complete nutrition at competitive pricing.

PC Pharma Limited is a fully owned subsidiary of PCH Holdings Limited representing offerings in Drugs/Bio medical devices/nutraceutical/specialised medical product markets in Sri Lanka and its portfolio encompasses a wide variety of globally sourced products. PC Pharma is conferred with ISO 9001:2000 certification, the first Sri Lankan Pharmaceutical Importer to obtain this recognition from the ISO.

Speaking at the event, General Manager and a representative of the Lactalis Group Xavier Rougagnou stated: “We, are excited about launching the Celia brand in Sri Lanka. As a company that started as a family business and has grown to become a global conglomerate, we have managed to embody family values while striving for corporate excellence. The Celia brand in itself is a product that offers the very best and most complete nutrition to infants and expecting mothers from the primary, secondary and tertiary stage of infant development, right through the first three years of a child’s life ensuring healthy growth and mental development.”

Ambassador of France to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Christine Robichon said: “French milk products have been widely accepted across the world. Thanks to the partnership between Lactalis and PC Pharma Limited of Sri Lanka the people of this country have now the opportunity of experiencing the nutrition of Celia milk.”

Also speaking at the event, General Manager PC Pharma Limited Dilshad Ikram stated, “This is a big step for PC Pharma and the Lactalis Group. Our primary aim of bringing health and better living to our customers will surely be fulfilled through this partnership. Further more as we move from strength to strength introducing new products into the market to give the best in choice to our customers with regard to health products, we will drive a healthy change in the market, as well as in the lives of our consumers.”

PCH Chairman S. H. M. Rishan commenting on the introduction of Celia, said, “This is yet another significant step forward in the diversification process of the Group. Our goal at PC Pharma has always been to offer the very best brands to our customers to give them unparalleled choice and amazing convenience and uplift their standard of living.”

Celia Nutrition and Celia Develop are infant milk formulas that cater to a child’s needs in the first, second and third stages of infant development. Celia MAMA is a product specifically designed to give the necessary nutrients for pregnant and lactating mothers. Celia milk based cereals comes in four flavours:  fruits, vegetables, vanilla and honey. The Celia brand also offers a diverse range of products for infants requiring special needs. Thus products that are lactose-free, called Celia Develop LF (lactose-free) which is specifically formulated for the management of chronic diarrhoea caused by lactose intolerance. Further the Celia brand offers ‘Celia Develop AD an easily digestible milk food adapted for infants in the early back-feeding stage, or in case of persistent diarrhoea.

The Lactalis Group recently acquired Parmalat, a large Italian company engaged in the production and distribution of dairy and fruit based products. This acquisition has resulted in the Lactalis Group becoming the world leader in dairy products, with presence in every continent and products ranging across all categories of dairy production.

Further, the Lactalis Group has asserted itself as the fifteenth largest food provider to the world, and the largest dairy producer in the world.

With their turnover in 2011 exceeding 14 billion Euros and their new acquisition pushing their employee count well past 52,000 employees in 56 countries further solidifies Lactalis’ status as a mover and shaker in the global dairy market.

Launched in 1980, the Celia brand offers six products each catering to the diverse needs of a growing child, formulated under the latest European standards (2006/141/CE) and ESPGHAN 2005, all milk powders are manufactured and packed in France under ISO9001:2001 certification which would make PC Pharma the first Sri Lankan Importer to obtain this ISO certification.