Reliance and Maliban Forge Strategic Partnership to Expand FMCG Reach in India and Sri Lanka

Explore the groundbreaking partnership between Reliance Consumer Products and Maliban Biscuits aimed at boosting FMCG growth, supply chain innovation, and regional cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.

Newsfirst Sri Lanka: “Crossing Borders, Sharing Flavours: A Historic Partnership” discusses the strategic collaboration between Reliance Consumer Products Limited in India and Maliban Biscuits Pvt Ltd in Sri Lanka. The conversation features T. Krishna Kumar, the Director of Reliance Consumer Products, and Ravi Jayawardena, the Group CEO of Maliban Biscuits.

The discussion begins by highlighting the significance of Sri Lanka as a commercial hub by 2025. Krishna Kumar emphasizes that Sri Lanka has a long history of producing high-quality consumer goods and fostering innovation. Maliban, a leader in Sri Lanka’s biscuit industry, has been at the forefront for decades and views its partnership with Reliance as an opportunity to transform the local industry.

Ravi Jayawardena states that this partnership goes beyond a mere business agreement; it reflects the close ties between India and Sri Lanka. He notes that Maliban stands to gain significantly from Reliance’s extensive market reach, robust infrastructure, and the strong leadership of Mukesh Ambani, who has been in business for 70 years. This partnership is crucial for achieving scaling goals, given the vast and complex nature of the Indian market.

Krishna Kumar outlines Reliance’s mission to provide Indian consumers with access to high-quality, affordable products from around the world. He commends the quality of Maliban’s offerings and highlights Reliance’s deep understanding of the market and strong retail network. Their partnership aims to leverage these strengths to create appealing, high-quality biscuits for Indian consumers.

The conversation also delves into supply chain strategies, emphasizing the importance of local production to meet India’s diverse consumer needs and maintain supply chain flexibility. Krishna Kumar discusses a dual supply chain approach: a centralized model for specialty products and a regional model for mass-market items. This strategy is designed to keep prices low and response times quick.

Both leaders agree that this alliance serves as a groundbreaking example of regional cooperation, uniting expertise to strengthen the region and help it access global markets. Ravi Jayawardena encourages Sri Lankan businesses to pursue similar partnerships to expand beyond their local markets.

The discussion concludes on a positive note, suggesting that this collaboration will help Maliban evolve into a global brand. This partnership exemplifies how India and Sri Lanka can work together to enhance their economies and improve access to goods and services for consumers.