(The International Processed Food & Packaging Exhibition in Sri Lanka)
The 6th Pro Foods Pro Pack Exhibition was held from 20th to 22nd July 2007 at Sirimavo Bandaranayake Memorial Exhibition Center BMICH. The event was organized by Sri Lanka Food Processors Association, Ministry of Industrial Development, Processed Foods Development Initiative (pvt) Ltd., National Agribusiness Council and Professional Exhibition Organizer Lanka Exhibition & Conference services (pvt) Ltd. The Official News papers for the event were Daily News, Sunday Observer and Dinamina. Derana TV was the Official TV Channel and Hiru FM,Gold FM and Sun FM acted as Official radio Channels.
Mr. Nanda Kohona the President of the SLFPA assisted by the Exco Members led the Organising Committee of the PRO FOODS /PRO PACK-2007. Along with Pro Foods Pro Pack Ag Biz 2007 which was a “Farmers fair” was also held at the same venue. The chief guests at the inauguration of this exhibition were Hon. Kumara Welgama Minister of Industrial Development and Hon. Hemakumara Nanayakkara Deputy Minister of Agriculture.
The stalls of the exhibition were representing Food manufacturing and Packaging Companies, Food related Machinery Suppliers, Certification Services and Food Science Departments of Universities. They introduced and demonstrated their latest technologies during the exhibition. The value of this exhibition was further enhanced with cookery demonstrations that were conducted on the 21st and 22nd of July by Chef Lloyd Opatha and his team from the Galadari Hotel.
At the same time an hourly raffle draw was held using members’ products as gift packs that were given away to the winners.. Mr.M.P. Welivita and Mr. Chula Seneviratne were involved in organizing the hourly draw. More than Nine thousand participants visited the exhibition during three days.
Food awards
The Pro foods Pro pack Awards committee consisted of Chairman Awards and Exco Member Mr. Damitha Perera and a panel of judges consisting of Mr.Cyril Wickramaratne the secretary SLFPA , Mr.Laksiri Wickramage , Ms.Jennifer Ingleton and Mrs.Sunanda Weerasingha who are also Exco Members of SLFPA together with Mrs.Damitha Rajapaksha the Food Technologist from the Industrial Technology Institute.
The Categories and the Winners of Food Awards are given below.
1) Best Natural Product
Winner – Lanka Organics (Pvt) Ltd for Natures’ Bounty Kithul Products.
1st Runner Up – Wichithra Vacuum Dehydrated Natural Products for dehydrated Karawila
2nd Runner Up - Kelani Valley Canneries for Guava Cordial.
2) Product with Best Packaging
Winner – Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation for spicy Cashew pack
3) Product with Local Raw Material
Winner – Lanka Organics (pvt) Ltd for Natures Bounty Traditional Sri Lankan Rice.
1st Runner Up - Daintee Ltd for Kurakkan Family Breakfast Cerial.
2nd Runner Up – C.D.De Fonseka & Sons (Pvt) Ltd for Coconut Vinegar.
4) Most Innovative Product
Winner – Daintee Ltd for Kurakkan Breakfast Cerial
1st Runner Up - Renuka Agrifoods Ltd for Coconut Curry
2nd Runner Up - Plenty Foods (Pvt) Ltd for Samaayu Kolakenda.
5) Best Stall Food Category –Ma’s Foods
6) Best Marketing Effort by a Company – Diamond Best Foods
7) Best Presented pack for any product developed with Ag Ent support - MA’s Foods for their Retorted Chicken Curry Pack
The Seminar on ISO 22,000 and HACCP –
The speakers –
1.Prof. Upali Samarajeewa the head of Food Science and Technology Department of the Faculty of Agriculture University of Peradeniya.
2. Mr.Prabath Samarasingha the Managing Director Nexus Business Solutions (Pvt) Ltd.
3. Mr.Mario de Alwis the Chairmen of the National Agribusiness Council
A Panel discussion was held at the Seminar led by Mr.Nanda Kohona the President of the SLFPA. and Prof .Upali Samarajeewa, Mr.Prabath Samarasingha and Mr.A.K.Ratnaraja the Chairmen of Ind-expo certification (pvt)Ltd as well as Ceylon National Chamber of Industries.
The objective of the above seminar was to create an awareness among the food manufacturing industries on the Certification for better market opportunities. There were more than 70 participants from various food related industries at this seminar. Mr. Cyril Wickramaratne delivered the vote of thanks.
Cleaner Dining Programme
SLFPA and the Public Health Department of Colombo Municipal Council jointly conducted a programme to select the best three food outlets in the three Major Food Courts from each Shopping Mall. namely Majestic City, Crescat and Excel World. .SLFPA launched the competition with a Seminar on Food Hygiene and a cookery demonstration on the 4th of May 2007 at New Town hall, Colombo 7.
The purpose of this programme was to uplift the standards in the preparation of food in restaurants and educate the restaurant kitchen staff. The main sponsor was Millers PLC. and Consultant Chef UniLever ,Mr. Saman Wijeratna also helped SLFPA by meeting the restaurant staff, pointing out their short comings and advising them to reorganize their businesses .
In this process experts from the Hotel industry educated them on methods to improve hygienic conditions, proper food preparation techniques, utilizing the existing resources without having to incur, additional expenses to achieve the minimum quality standards required by Public Health Department. The original concept was suggested by Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam, the Chief Medical Officer, Colombo Municipal Council .
Subsequently the panel of judges visited the restaurants on 16th and 17th of July 2007 and selected the best restaurant followed by the 1st runner up and 2nd runner up. The winner of the Excel World (Millennium city) was Milleka food court, the 1st runner up was Clay Pot food court and 2nd runner up was Domino’s Pizza food court. The winner of the Majestic City was Roots food court, the 1st runner up was Vilasa kitchen and 2nd Runner up was Great Lantarn food court. The winner of the Crescat was CC Express food court, the 1st Runner up was Sakura Japan and the 2nd runner up was Sri Lankan food court. They were awarded certificates and plaques of appreciation during the Pro-Foods/ Pro-Pack 2007 Awards Nite. The main sponsor Millers PLC awarded the selected restaurants.
The Chairperson of the cleaner dining programme was Mrs.Sunanda Weerasinghe and the team consisted of Mr. Cyril Wickramaratne the Secretary of the SLFPA,Mr Delano Dias General Manager – Marketing Millers PLC, Mr. Saman Wijeratna – Consultant chef – Uni Lever , Mr Hillary Casichetty , Millers PLC , Dr. Pradeep Kariyawasam the Chief Medical Officer and Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni of the Colombo Municipal Council.,Mr.Susil M.Kathriarachchi the Chief Inspector Food & Drugs, Mr.Lal kumara and Mr.Gamini Ranasingha Food Inspectors from CMC and Mr. Mohan Wickramaratne the Head – Unilever Food Solutions Sri Lanka., .