~ Inclusive value chain model strives to empower communities while delivering greater business results

Continuing to expand its engagement with the country’s Estate sector, Unilever Sri Lanka launched the Unilever “Perfect Estate” programme at the Dambetenne Estate recently. Mr. Carl Cruz, the Chairman of Unilever Sri Lanka inaugurated the launch. He also ceremonially opened the fully renovated Welfare Shop of the Estate in coordination with the Workers Housing Cooperative Society (EWHCS), and handed over a completely redeveloped Child Development Centre to the community of Dambetenne.

As part of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan commitment of helping people around the nation improve their health and wellbeing, Unilever Sri Lanka and the Dental Faculty of Peradeniya conducted a dental hygiene camp in the estate, with an attendance of more than 500 people. Dental screening and treatments were given during the camp.

Introduced to Sri Lanka in 2015, the “Perfect Estate” programme is part of Unilever’s efforts to create a sustainable go-to-market business model and builds on its Perfect Store programme to drive awareness, knowledge and adoption of its products in hard-to-reach rural communities. The company identifies rural estates and introduces a range of programmes, including product education sessions and health, beauty and hygiene workshops for the community. This includes dental hygiene camps conducted in collaboration with Signal and hand hygiene awareness programmes organised together with Lifebuoy.

Speaking about this initiative, Aruna Mawilmada, Director - Customer Development, Unilever Sri Lanka said, “Unilever has deep roots in the Sri Lankan market and shares a strong bond with our consumers here. We were aware that consumers in the country’s tea estate sector had access to only a limited choice of products due to a variety of socio-economic factors. Our experience with similar communities around the world has shown us that offering them a greater selection of good quality products goes a long way in helping raise their living standards. The Programme has come a long way within a period of just over a year and I’m delighted to note that we have managed to positively transform the lives of our consumers through this initiative.”

Since its launch with the support of the Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT), the Perfect Estate programme has allowed Unilever Sri Lanka to cater more effectively to estate stores. The development of the estates stores coupled with the implementation of such interventions have successfully delivered greater value to the business as well as provided diversity of choice to the estate people.

About Unilever: Unilever Sri Lanka is one of the biggest FMCG companies in Sri Lanka, with 29 market leading brands in categories such as Home Care, Personal Care and Foods. Established in Sri Lanka in 1938 with brands such as Sunlight, Lux and Pears Rose. Unilever’s corporate purpose is to make sustainable living commonplace, and the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan sets out to decouple the company’s growth from environmental impact, while increasing its positive social impact. The Plan has three big goals that by 2020 will help improve people’s health and well-being, reduce the company’s environmental footprint, and enhance livelihoods across its value chain. For more information about Unilever, please visit www.unilever.com.lk

Photo caption: Mr. Carl Cruz, Chairman, Unilever Sri Lanka (center) and Mr. Aruna Mawilmada, Customer Development Director, Unilever Sri Lanka being welcomed by children at the Dambatenne Estate