Mastering the culinary art for business success

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

Cookery is an inborn ability, especially for women. Many do not pursue this capability to gain economic benefits. However, some master the art of culinary and engage in successful business ventures. They have set an example of how these skills can be best used.

Displaying her creativity in culinary art, M.H.T. Priyanka Pradeepa Kumari has ventured into producing foods in the natural form. Her business has reached the next level where she plans to expand to meet the growing demand.

She was interviewed by Daily News Business.

Q. What business are you engaged in and how did you set about it?

A. I engage in natural food processing. I produce sauce, jam and paste under the Priyanka brand name. This venture was set up in 2008 with 11 products and now I supply 14 products of which eight are marketed under the Priyanka label. My speciality is green pepper sauce which I make out of four pepper varieties of green, red, white and black pepper.

The product range includes tomato sauce, tamarind sauce, ginger and garlic paste, amberella chutney, mango chutney, seeni sambol, chillie paste, maldive fish sambol, katta sambol, kohila and keselmuwa sambol, date and lime chutney, Sinhala pickle and tamarind jam.

I take part in many exhibitions including Medicare, Profood, Excon, Inco, Shilpa, Kedella and Home and Me. I also took part in SME exhibitions. These exhibitions provide me an opportunity to popularise my products and develop customer relationships to promote business.

As I am engaged in the food industry I take extra effort to make them people friendly. For this my products are made out of natural ingredients and no artificial food preservatives, essence or colouring is used. These products have two year self period. I always try to use home grown ingredients and this has made my products popular among the growing clientele.

I carry out the entire operation by my self. The factory is located at Athurugiriya. I have regular suppliers of ingredients and also a network of shops to display my products.

They are available at Arpico supermarkets and Lakkam Moratuwa which have good demand. I have exported these products to North America and will receive the response shortly. I am currently looking at markets in Australia, Cyprus, Japan, China, Italy and Ukraine.

I have plans to expand the business and employ ten workers to cater to the expected demand increase.

The ability to do business is inherited from my parents. The idea to produce food products mainly came after a TV program on cookery demonstrations I saw. I gradually built the business to this level. I try out new recipes and produce them at present. I will be receiving the GMP certification shortly.

Q. How do you balance your family and business?

A. I manage time according to the tasks that I have to perform. My husband Kelum Rukshan helps me a great deal to continue the business. My little daughter Sathsarani, though small supports me in whatever way she can.

All this has contributed to the success of the venture.

Q. What were the challenges you faced?

A. Food industry is highly competitive. However, natural foods have a good demand and this business was able to sustain and grow due to this. Sometimes I find it difficult to purchase ingredients on time. With whatever challenge I work with determination and courage to further improve the business.

Q. What are your goals?

A. I have a goal to expand the business and to make my products available countrywide. I like to see my daughter well-educated and becoming a responsible citizen. I do everything possible to make her life comfortable.

Q. Being a woman was it an advantage to be in business?

A. Yes. It was never a drawback in this business. However what is most important is to face the challenges and move forward. I have confidence in me and this enables me to produce quality products. What I feel is that the gender does not matter but the way one faces the situation.

Q. What is your advice to women in business?

A. My advice to women in business is not to waste time. We can manage time and work accordingly to take maximum advantage of the resources we have. Women need to bring up their children well. It is always important to engage in a venture that is useful and economically beneficial.

Q. What were your achievements in family and business?

A. My life is centred around my family. We are a close knit family and I always look forward to their well-being.

In business, I have won numerous awards at exhibitions and award ceremonies. I won the first place at Shilpa 2009 in Colombo and also in Western Province. This feat was repeated in Shilpa 2010 exhibition. I won both awards at this event too.

I won the second place in macro level entrepreneur of the year award from Women’s Chamber of Commerce and industries. My stall was selected as the best stall in the exhibition conducted by the Industrial Development Board (IDB). I have won quality certificates from Profood Propack 2009 and Inco 2010.

I have shared my knowledge in numerous television programs on green pepper sauce production. This has created awareness about the product and generated a good response from viewers.

Many people have helped me to improve the business. Among them are Dhammika, Sirimavi and Liyanagunawardena from the IDB Peliyagoda branch, J.H.P.J. Kumari from Kaduwela Vidatha Centre, officials at the Agriculture Export Board and Jayasumana from Ministry of Science and Technology. I also like to thank all the customers who patronized my products.

Q. What is your contribution to society?

A. I produce natural export quality foods. This is with a view to produce a healthy nation. We need to promote natural food as our eating habits have changed due to busy life styles.

The feedback I receive is encouraging and I strive hard to produce quality products for my customers. We consume food for our survival and natural food is said to be the best that gives more nutrition. Priyanka products could supplement our additional food requirement and it is hundred percent natural.