Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC strengthened its regional standing with two honours at the FMCG Asia Awards 2025, winning New Brand Launch of the Year (Sri Lanka) for True Born and Seasonal Campaign of the Year (Sri Lanka) for Carlsberg’s Display Drive & Merchandising initiative. These latest regional accolades recognise the company’s industry and category leadership which underpins deep‑rooted national impact. Over the past decade alone, Lion Brewery’s contributions to Sri Lanka’s tax base have surpassed the LKR 500 billion mark, a scale that reflects both the breadth of its footprint and the consistency with which it supports fiscal stability.

Organised by Retail Asia and held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore, the FMCG Asia Awards recognise companies that demonstrate excellence across the value chain, from proposition development and market execution to financial impact, operational rigour and measurable industry contribution. Winners are selected through a comprehensive evaluation of market performance, executional strength and strategic clarity across Asia’s competitive FMCG markets.

Lion Brewery’s dual wins place a Sri Lankan company among leading organisations across the region, highlighting its ability to deliver at international standards. It further validates a strategy that balances 140 years of brewing heritage with a forward‑looking approach to growth. The company continues to evolve its portfolio with discipline and clarity, exemplified by the True Born launch, which was an insight‑led, precisely executed introduction aligned with the quality benchmarks that define Lion’s long‑term performance. Meanwhile, the Display Drive & Merchandising initiative for Carlsberg emphasizes the strength of its field operations, consistency in retail execution, and the robust partnerships built across the trade network.

“These recognitions arrive at a time when Sri Lankan consumers are seeking brands that feel contemporary, confident and proudly local,” said Rajiv Meewakkala, Chief Executive Officer of Lion Brewery. “Our response has been to design experiences that are authentic to the brand character, considerate of occasion and context, and delivered with operational discipline. By emphasising operational and execution excellence, purposeful design and flawless last‑mile delivery, Lion continues to build trust while inviting discovery, a balance of leadership and adventure that has long defined the brand.”

The wins also highlight the company’s capability to translate consumer insight into measurable results. From insight‑led proposition development to store‑level execution, these initiatives demonstrate rigour across the value chain, from clear objectives, precise targeting, and strong collaboration with trade partners to a continuous improvement mindset informed by on‑ground learning. The outcome is a set of initiatives that do more than perform, they set benchmarks for how Sri Lankan FMCG brands can create value through relevance, reliability and craft.

Recognition on a regional stage is meaningful not only for Lion Brewery, but also for Sri Lanka’s broader FMCG ecosystem. It signals that local innovation can compete at international standards when it is grounded in consumer understanding, executed with precision, and supported by long‑term commitment. For customers, trade partners and stakeholders, the awards serve as evidence of consistency in the ability to perform, improve and lead with character.

Looking ahead, Lion will continue to deepen consumer relevance through thoughtful portfolio expansion, curated experiences and strong execution in market. The focus remains on delivering quality without compromise, nurturing talent, and strengthening partnerships that enable sustainable growth at home and abroad. With a legacy built on trust and a future defined by bold, well‑considered moves, Lion Brewery is intent on shaping the next chapter of Sri Lankan brewing, one that is confident, modern and unmistakably its own.

Image Caption: The Lion Brewery (Ceylon) PLC team with the 2025 FMCG Asia Awards