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Kenwood Corporation Japan Representative Masanori Hoshi , Kenwood Regional Office Dubai Head of Marketing Louie Gomez , Petco Lanka (Kenwood Distributor Sri Lanka) Managing Director Dhammika Hettiarachchi and Kenwood Regional office Dubai Head of Technical Alexander Calosing
Petco Lanka’s brand portfolio includes original products from multi-national and local brands, providing customers with a unique and authentic in-car infotainment experience. Petco Lanka is also the official distributor of ‘Kenwood’ Branded Car Audio/Visual Products in Sri Lanka. Coinciding with the event was a much awaited dealer convention, held in association with Kenwood, Dubai – the regional office for Middle East and Africa, also overseeing operations in Sri Lanka.
The convention was the first of its kind in the local market, carried out with the participation of Petco Lanka’s islandwide dealer network including car audio dealers and installation service providers. The convention being a novelty in the local car audio industry marked a significant milestone by providing vital technical and sales information to all participants on the Kenwood brand and its accessories. With global technological advancements in the automobile entertainment industry, the car audio/visual market has become extremely sophisticated and challenging.
In-car infotainment and the ‘Connected Car’ concept being the biggest trends, dealers and installers should constantly get educated on new products introduced to the market. Therefore, the convention also showcased the 2015 product line up and educated dealers on the new technological advancements planned for the following year; furthermore, reinvigorating the partnerships with the dealer network. Petco Lanka also awarded the top three dealers of Kenwood Car Audio products (in terms of sales) with prizes and certificates recognising their dedication to the brand.
Petco Lanka is the brainchild of Karunasiri Hettiarachchi, whose vision and leadership formed this successful business in 1984. With a strong passion for electronics he ventured into the trade with a simple yet profound vision that lasted three decades and continue to provide direction to the organisation. His vision was to ‘deliver a specialist range of products at a competitive price’. What began as a humble electronics, electrical products sales and installation outlet has now grown to host international brands coupled with an islandwide reputation for superior service and technical expertise.
Karunasiri’ eldest son – Dammika Hettiarachchi also shared the same passion; alongside his father and two like-minded siblings, he propelled Petco Lanka into new heights beginning with the marketing of many international car audio brands, installation services and technical support for automobile owners. His brothers Chaminda Hettiarachchi and Jagath Hettiarachchi further added to the company’s reputation in the industry, enriching the legacy of Petco Lanka and helped establish the company’s innovative stance.
Within these three decades the company has expanded into the distributorship and dealership of many world renowned brands such as Kenwood, Rockford Fosgate, Scoshe, EFX, Lightning Audio, Ground Zero, Rodek, etc. Petco Lanka is now the leading veteran distributor of Kenwood audio products with a separate Kenwood distribution department. With the reputation garnered through a diverse portfolio they were able to gain market leadership as the local supplier for many Car Stereo shops in the island covering Matara, Kandy, Nuwara-eliya, Negombo, Kurunegala and the country’s capital.
Petco Lanka proudly claims the introduction of many marketing strategies in the local car audio and electronics sector. In 1994, they became the first to rally Promotional Vans for Electronics, at the 2005 Motor Show claimed the Biggest stall for Car Audio Brands under one roof, they were also the first to create Competition Demo Cars in Sri Lanka in 2006 and in the same year introduced the first WIFI supported Car Computer in Sri Lanka.
2014 has been monumental, as Petco Lanka celebrates their 30th Anniversary and as a strategic move towards expanding market presence they have also formed partnerships with leading car companies (importers and distributors) in Sri Lanka. Petco Lanka has now become a consultancy in electronics and car audio solutions; providing technical expertise to dealers and customers on the same platforms of unrivalled trust and quality.
