Hayleys Consumer and Fujifilm celebrate market leadership

Global photo im-aging leader Fujifilm felicitated its top dealers and digital mini lab operators in Sri Lanka as it celebrated its 11-year partnership with the Hayleys Group at a gala awards ceremony in Colombo last week.

Hosted by Hayleys Consumer Products Limited (HCPL) the sole distributor for Fujifilm in Sri Lanka, the event honoured six top distributors alongside the company's first minilab customer, its first digital minilab customer and the Best Fujifilm Digital Imaging Customer.

Speaking at the event themed the 'Fujifilm 1 Party,' Hayleys PLC Chairman N. G. Wickremeratne paid tribute to Fujifilm for its support as a principal, and to the company's dealers whose efforts have taken the brand to market leadership in Sri Lanka. "Hayleys is in the heart of Sri Lanka. It makes great products which it ships to all parts of the world," he said. "Hayleys also brings some of the most reputed products into the heart of Sri Lanka."

Wickremeratne said the inspiration being given to the company by its principals and dealers is crucial for the company and its brands to stay ahead of the competition. The Managing Director of Fujifilm Regional Services Singapore Yasuhiro Egami who was in Sri Lanka to attend the event said Hayleys Consumer is one of Fujifilm's best distributors.

The company was appointed sole distributor for Fujifilm in 1996 and had achieved a market share of more than 70 per cent for the Fujifilm Frontier range of digital minilabs, Egami said.

He also disclosed that HCPL had increased Fujifilm's share of the still film market from 5 per cent in 1996 to 60 percent today. "The same can be said for colour photo paper which has grown from a market share of 6 per cent to 58 per cent," he said.

HCPL Director/CEO Trevor Reckerman said it was a source of immeasurable pride for the company to bring together the Fujifilm family to celebrate its success in keeping Fujifilm where it belongs as the No One photo-imaging brand in Sri Lanka.