The tenth graders of Negombo International School (NICE), visited the Kist factory on November 18 on a tour to learn how the manufacturing process goes. They were shown the hygienic way Kist products are made and distributed.

“We learnt a lot, it was amazing and we learnt almost everything in our syllabus about production, distribution,” said Dimithri smiling, after the tour around the Kist factory. There are four main products made in the Kist factory.

They are Nectar which comes in seven different flavours, sauce, jam and cordial. The other products are jelly, chutney, vinegar, chilli paste, treacle, pickle and sambol. Most of the Kist products are made out of fruits.

“We don’t get fruits throughout the year. So we collect them, preserve and store them for future use,” explained Mr. Deepal Peiris, the Production Executive of the factory.

The students were shown how the fruits are collected, thoroughly washed and peeled to squeeze out the pulp. The pulp is preserved to be stored in special bags called the aseptic bag which keeps the fruit pulp fresh for a long time without spoiling.

They were also shown how this pulp is mixed with special ingredients to make the clean and tasty products.

Before being bottled and sealed for sale the food items are all tested to check if they are in proper standards.

Even the bottles they use are tested for their standard. The young visitors had to wear coats and special shoes and also had to wash their hands thoroughly before entering the production area.
“Kist has the SLS standards.

It follows good manufacturing practices, and all the products are made in a very hygienic way. We always make safe food items for the people to consume,” said Mr. Nimal Gunerathne, the General Manager of the factory.

After the tour the students were given refreshments and a chance to enjoy each variety of Kist products. “I learnt a lot today at the factory.

I thought that the place would be dirty but it is not. It is very nice and clean,” Chaehyun, one of the students, told the Funday Times.

The commerce teacher of the school who accompanied the students, Ms. Artika Bakshi, said
that the tour was well organized and very informative.

It had given the opportunity to her students to witness almost all the aspects of their commerce syllabus. She mentioned that the place was very clean and that it was not a put-on act.

She thanked Mr. Sumit Law the Commercial Director of Millers Limited for organizing this event,
Ms. Achini the Brand Manager and Mr. Nimal who also assisted them. School children and the general public can book an appointment to visit the Kist factory on either Wednesdays or Fridays by calling Cargills Agrifoods on 031-2237040 on weekdays between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.