Uk's TESCO picks 23 Lankan exporters

The world’s third largest retailer TESCO, have picked 23 Sri Lankan exporters in their hardline categories. This is the first such initiative by TESCO in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s Industry and Commerce Ministry and its Department of Commerce have earned glowing praise from the world’s third largest retailer TESCO. “I am impressed with the professionalism of Sri Lanka’s Industry Ministry and its DoC. from day one of our arrival, everything went smoothly with top coordination and we achieved our mission in Colombo quickly thanks to their sleek professionalism and organisational focus of DoC” praised the highly pleased Mark Kenneth Astley, the Haryana based General Manager of Tesco Hardlines, under Tesco International Sourcing, Hong Kong, on 07th December.

Mr Astley was debriefing Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce , on 07th December of his successful one-to-one direct buyer meetings for TESCO PLC with Sri Lankan exporters.

 
This is the first such initiative by TESCO in Sri Lanka. Facilitated by the Department of Commerce (DoC), TESCO’s Astley began his one-to-one meetings with Sri Lankan exporters on 05 December and continued through 06 December. “In this round one, we have picked 23 Sri Lankan exporters in our hardlines categories. We are returning to Sri Lanka in 2013 first quarter for our Round 2 one-to-ones” Astley revealed, and hinted of TESCO’s possible future expansion in Sri Lanka: “We need a vertically integrated supply-chain from Sri Lanka.” Mr Astley did not elaborate on his intentions any further.

TESCO PLC is the $ 94 Bn revenue (2011) world’s third largest listed retailer with 6300 stores, 500,000 employees across 14 countries and also is UK’s largest supermarket chain commanding more than 30% British market share.