More Mega Malls from Keells

Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

The consumer market is fast growing and the supermarket concept is well established in the country. The change in lifestyles has enhanced business opportunities involving all strata of society, John Keells Holdings PLC Executive Vice President and Retail Sector Head Roshanie Jayasundera Moraes told Daily News business.

“The modern day trading is not for a particular category of consumers. The shopping trend has evolved over the years and a higher number of consumers patronage supermarkets at present,” she said.

The market is large and is sufficient to facilitate the players, though the competition among industrialists is high. We are expanding our current outlets focusing on having malls in key cities.

The first such mall in Moratuwa is a great success and Keells will set up five to six outlets this year in key suburbs of Colombo and outside, she said.

The 14,000 square feet supermarket at K Zone in Moratuwa will follow another large format outlet in Rajagiriya during the end of this month.

Sri Lanka is going through a rapid economic development and this has widen the consumer market.

The target to double the per capita income will have a positive impact on consumer behaviour where there will be an increase in the purchasing power.

“The supermarket chains will have more opportunities to grow and there will be double digit growth in years to come,” she said.