‘Marina’ coconut oil bags SLIM Brand Excellence 2013 Award

Tuesday, 26 November 2013 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

‘Marina’ coconut oil, a brand enormously popular amongst households as well as Sri Lanka’s food and hospitality sector, was honoured with the Silver award in the SME category at the SLIM Brand Excellence 2013 organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing (SLIM) in Colombo recently. This accolade clinched by ‘Marina’ coconut oil is unique and so special because it was the first-ever award won by a brand representing edible oil industry in Sri Lanka, says Marina Head of Sales and Brands Denzil Perera. All ‘Marina’ products are hygienically manufactured under international standards in a state-of-the-art production facility with a 100% guarantee on freshness and quality. “We have introduced around 30 consumer and bakery products in the oils and fat category under the brand ‘Marina’ to the local and international markets,” he said. We are thriving in both local and international markets due to the trust consumers have kept in the brand, he further added. Assurance of quality and goodness There are many coconut oil products in the market under different brand names. Therefore, it is admittedly difficult for consumers to decide on which particular brand to purchase. They face a dilemma in selecting the most trustworthy and hygienic brand. At times, they are misled and opt for the wrong choice, and that’s why we should build up a trusted brand to give the assurance of quality and goodness, he noted. Marina is a reliable and trustworthy product which guarantees 100% freshness and quality. The SLIM award firmly reinforces the well-established quality and goodness of ‘Marina’ coconut oil, Perera emphasised. Marina is a 100% Sri Lankan company within the umbrella of the NMK Holdings. Expressing his views on Marina’s success at bagging the coveted SLIM Brand Excellence Award, NMK Group of Companies Managing Director Manjula Narayana said: “Consumers do not get wholly chemical-free, safe, natural, fresh and hygienic products from multinational companies manufacturing food products in Sri Lanka. In 2009, the Marina brand was launched with the primary objective of filling this void and to ensure that local consumers are given a better deal in terms of the edible oil products they purchase.

Toxic-free, high-quality, products “It was our honest and dedicated mission to give these consumer products devoid of toxin matter harmful to human health. We strove to give them 100% safe and hygienic products which were trustworthy – a food brand which was synonymous with natural goodness and superior quality. “Contributing towards building a healthy nation is our set goal. Toxic-free, high-quality, products go a long way towards achieving this objective. That is our vision and mission. That was why within a short time span, Marina coconut oil and other products became enormously popular amongst Sri Lanka consumers and specially housewives. “Marina coconut oil enjoys a special place in terms of popularity and acceptance amongst households and Marina Cooking Oil occupies a special place in the selected list of brands amongst the chefs in the food and hospitality industry. Despite the many diverse products in the market, Marina coconut oil has become their first choice because they trust its quality and natural goodness as a 100% safe and hygienic product because that’s the only physically refined coconut oil brand in the market which doesn’t use chemicals in its refinery process. “Winning the top SLIM Brand Excellence award further consolidates the public trust placed on ‘Marina’ products. The real winners of this accolade are our customers and distributors. As a wholly-owned Sri Lankan company, we are committed to give our loyal customers superior quality products at an affordable price.” Critical issues Narayana added: “In looking at the prevailing market scenario, there are some critical issues which we need to examine – Are the food products purchased in the consumer market safe to consume without any deleterious effects on the human body? Under what manufacturing conditions have they been produced and what are the ingredients that have gone into their manufacture? When buying a product, it is important for consumers to keep these factors in mind. It is only then that they will have a proper understanding of what they buy and consume to lead a healthy life.” “Research has revealed that many coconut oil products in the market contain levels of toxicity harmful to human health. But, this is not the case where ‘Marina’ coconut oil is concerned as the product is 100% guaranteed to be safe and hygienic. We have with us both local and international quality certifications in this regard. That is why ‘Marina’ coconut oil plays a dominant role in the marketplace and has today become the No. 1 choice of consumers and housewives. “Consumers who purchase ‘Marina’ coconut oil enjoy benefits all-round. A 675 ml bottle of ‘Marina’ coconut oil is sufficient for cooking purposes of a household, which would otherwise require a liter if a competitive product is to be used. ’Marina’ coconut oil can be re-used even six times without a change in colour of the oil, taste or goodness in the cooked food because of the superior quality of the product. State-of-the-art technology “Marina has gained the trust of the consumers with its product range which consists of; Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Physically Refined Coconut Oil, Cooking Oil, Sunflower Oil, Soya Bean Oil and bakery products such as Super Cake Margarine, Premium Cake Margarine, Pasty Margarine, Multi Purpose Margarine, Bread Fat, Bun Compound, Biscuit Dough Fat, Vegetable Fat, Frying Fat, Ice Cream Fat, Pan Lubricant, Vegetable Ghee, Kotthu Mix, Yeast and Icing Sugar are these products. “All these products have been manufactured using state-of-the-art technology in compliance with internationally accepted standards. They come with a 100% guarantee on their quality, hygiene and natural goodness. That was why the Marina oil processing facility was awarded ISO 22000, HACCP and GMP international process certifications. “The primary objective of NMK Group is to provide Sri Lankan consumers with safe, hygienic, super quality products in keeping with modern technology and international standards at an affordable price.