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Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Limited
Company typeLimited liability
IndustryBiscuits
Snack food
Founded1954
FounderAngulugha Gamage Hinni Appuhamy
HeadquartersRatmalana,
Colombo
,
Sri Lanka
Area served
International
Key people
A. G. Kumudika Fernando (Group Chairperson)
BrandsMaliban Biscuits
Maliban Milk (milk powder)
Maliban Mineral Waters (mineral water)
Zellers Chocolates
Little Lion Bakeries
Websitewww.malibanbiscuit.com

Maliban Biscuit Manufactories, is one of the largest manufacturers, distributors and marketers of bakery products in Sri Lanka.[1][2] Maliban is a privately owned limited liability company.

History

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The company was founded in 1954 by Angulugaha Gamage Hinni Appuhamy.[1] Appuhamy was born 2 December 1902 in the village of Akmeemana, the son of Angulugaha Gamage Cornelis Appuhamy and Kankanamgamage Kathirinahamy.[3][4] He had his early education at St. Aloysius College, Galle.[5][6] At the age of seventeen, in 1922, he left school and home and traveled to Colombo to seek his fortunes.[7][8][9] After opening his own tea kiosk on Maliban Street, Pettah in 1928, he converted the shop into a small hotel in 1935.[3][4][7][5] Appuhamy opened his second hotel at First Cross Street and then moved it to a larger premises in Norris Road.[7] He subsequently opened hotels at Baseline Road, another at Norris Road and at Chatham Street.[7][10] He invited his brothers, A. G. Wickramapala and A. G. Jinadasa to join him in managing the expanding business.[5][11][12]

Appuhamy then opened a bakery, which initially sold bread but later added hand made biscuits to their range. One of the first biscuits produced was the Maliban Marie biscuit. In order to satisfy the demand he purchased a biscuit cutter from India to assist in the biscuit manufacturing.[5][13]

Appuhamy bought 0.204 ha (0.50 acres) of land at Kirulapana, where they established a dairy (which was later shifted to Nawala).[7][6] The Kirulapana property was then used to commence the hand-operated bottling of Maliban Mineral Waters. He also entered into the ice cream industry, opening the Maliban Cream House in Colpetty.[7]

In 1945 after World War II the assets of the businesses carried out by the three brothers were incorporated into Maliban Hotels Limited. The business included six hotels, one tearoom, an ice cream parlour, a mineral water company and bakery.[14]

The company the purchased a plant from Baker Perkins and on 5 August 1954 Maliban Biscuits commenced full-scale production.[7] In 1954 the bakery section of Maliban Hotels Ltd was subsequently converted into a limited liability company, Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Ltd.[7]

In 1965, the company's operations were shifted to a new factory complex, which was constructed on a 4.1 ha (10 acres) site in Ratmalana. The company also has the distinction of being the first food company to achieve the National Quality Award in 1996.[15][16] Winning the award again in 2010 and 2015. The company has also been awarded the 'Global Performance Excellence Award' in 2016 and 2018 by the Asia Pacific Quality Organisation.[17][18][19] In 2020 they won the 'Brand Excellence Award' at the Sri Lanka Best Brand Awards.[20][21]

In 1970, Hinni Appuhamy died leaving his company to his son, Rathnapala Samaraweera.[3][5] In the 1970s and 1980s the company had over 85% of the Sri Lankan biscuit market.[22] In 1993 a modern plant was installed at a cost of Rs 350 million, increasing capacity by further 20 t (20 long tons; 22 short tons)/day.[7]

The company now employs over 1,800 people and works continuous 24-hour shifts, producing 36 million packs of biscuits per annum and exporting their products to over 35 countries.[1] It has over 40% market share of the Sri Lankan biscuit market.[1]

In 2020 the company announced that it would be diversifying into the production of pharmaceuticals, as part of the government's plans to establish a self-sufficient local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.[23][24]

On 21 August 2024, A. G. Kumudika Fernando was appointed as the new group chairperson of the Maliban Group, following the passing of her father, A. G. Ratnapala Samaraweera, the company's previous chairman.[25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Maliban Celebrates 50 Years Of Sweet Success". Business Today. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  2. ^ "Company Overview". Maliban, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Wimalaratne, W. D. G., ed. (1994). Personalities, Sri Lanka: A Biographical Study (15th-20th Century), 1490-1990 A.D. Ceylon Business Appliances Ltd. p. 68. ISBN 9789559287001.
  4. ^ a b Gunawardena, C. A., ed. (2005). Encyclopedia of Sri Lanka. New Dawn Press Inc. p. 180. ISBN 1932705481.
  5. ^ a b c d e "A G Hinniappuhamy: Industrial pioneer, philanthropist". The Daily News. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b Roberts, Norah (1993). Galle as Quiet as Asleep. p. 18. ISBN 9789559557906.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i Perera, Quintus (4 April 2011). "Maliban directors sample biscuits like tea-tasting culture". Sunday Times. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  8. ^ Perera, Gayani (18 October 2009). "House of Maliban - Sri Lanka's number one choice". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Ltd - 389 Galle Road, Ratmalana". lk.kompass.com. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  10. ^ "The Ceylon Trade Journal". 18 (9). Department of Commerce (Ceylon). 1953: 558. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ Perera, Gayani (20 December 2009). "The legendary Maliban family speaks". Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Maliban Biscuit Manufactories Pvt Ltd". Sri Lanka Export Development Board. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  13. ^ "The success story of Maliban Group of Companies". Sunday Times. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  14. ^ "MALIBAN BISCUIT MANUFACTORIES PVT LTD". www.srilankabusiness.com. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  15. ^ "Maliban clinches Sri Lanka National Quality Award". Daily News. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  16. ^ "Business Today - Maliban receives the Sri Lanka National Quality Award". www.businesstoday.lk. December 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  17. ^ "Maliban becomes only food company to seize World Class Award at APQO Conference 2016". Daily Mirror. 23 December 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  18. ^ "International award winner Maliban Biscuits honoured at National Quality Awards". Financial Times. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Maliban sets international record for overall performance". BusinessNews.lk. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Maliban shines at Sri Lanka Best Brand Awards 2020". Echelon Media (PVT) Ltd. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Maliban clinches Brand Excellence Award". Sunday Observer. 3 January 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  22. ^ Jayawardena, Ravi (3 July 2011). "Leading from the front spanning over five decades". Sunday Times. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
  23. ^ "Maliban to manufacture pharma". The Daily News. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Maliban to manufacture SL's first anti-cancer drug". TheMorning.Lk. 29 March 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Maliban announces A.G. Kumudika Fernando as new Chairperson". Daily FT. 22 August 2024. Archived from the original on 22 August 2024. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
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