Maliban Milk, the latest product from Maliban to hit the market has already become popular with consumers. According to comments made in a company press release by Maliban’s Chief Operating Officer D.L. Weerasuriya and Head of Sales and Marketing Nalinda Jayamanna, the quality of the milk as well as the pricing strategy is extremely consumer friendly. Mr. Jayamanne said Maliban Milk was introduced in a poly pack so the cost of the conventional shelf pack is eliminated and the consumer gets the benefit. Maliban Milk packs of different sizes, catering to the whole spectrum of consumer income levels, became popular.
Maliban Milk is manufactured by Murray Goulburn Australia which caters to markets in the United States, Japan and Europe. Maliban decided to introduce it to Sri Lanka as it is the only milk in the world that carries the approval of a government, that of Australia.
“That is a claim no other milk can match,” said Mr. Weerasuriya. He added that nutrition, which is vital criteria for markets of developing countries, was another factor in introducing Maliban Milk to the Sri Lankan market.
Mr. Weerasuriya said Maliban Milk meets concentration standards which have been certified not only the government of Australia but also by the Sri Lanka Standards Institute through its SLS certification. “Our commitment to standards was further confirmed when Maliban Milk was awarded the HACCP certification for the safety of food products. Incidentally, we are the only milk powder in the Sri Lankan market to be awarded this certification.”
Mr. Weerasuriya explained that Maliban Milk is manufactured without removing any vital nutrient components and contains the optimum amount of milk fat, milk protein and lactose. “In turning liquid milk into powdered milk, most milk powder manufacturers remove the milk fat content which is about 36% and replace it with palm oil or animal fat substitutes. This is done because replacing milk fat at Rs.650 per kilo with animal fat or palm oil at Rs.120 per kilo translates into huge profits for them. The milk protein content which is about 24% of whole milk is treating the same way because it is more profitable to replace milk protein at Rs.900 per kilo with cheaper wheat protein or melamine substitutes.”
Mr. Weerasuriya added that some companies even go to the extent of substituting sugar for the milk lactose which means consumers get the bad end of the stick. “Not only are they deprived of the 100% goodness and wholesomeness of milk but they also get various health complications caused by those replacement substitutes.” |
E-mail