Zellers recently crowned Sri Lanka’s first-ever AI Avurudu Kumara and Kumariya, launching a unique campaign that blended tradition with technology to reimagine Avurudu celebrations.
The initiative invited Sri Lankans to create their own AI-generated Avurudu Kumara or Kumariya by selecting their favourite Zellers centre-filled chocolates, drawing inspiration from the brand’s premium chocolate range. The campaign received an enthusiastic response, attracting over 450 entries from across the country.
Following a public voting round, the entries were narrowed down to the top 10 Kumaras and top 10 Kumariyas. To enhance engagement, Zellers animated the finalists and showcased them on Facebook, transforming the competition into an interactive digital experience that drew significant online attention.
The campaign concluded with a two-hour live voting finale, which saw strong real-time participation from audiences islandwide. After the final count, Contestant 116 (Anji) was crowned Zellers AI Avurudu Kumara, while Contestant 377 (Ivory Cocoa) won the Kumariya title, along with several prizes.
A Zellers spokesperson said the campaign reflects the brand’s continued focus on innovation and storytelling, demonstrating how modern tools such as AI can be used to reimagine cultural traditions and strengthen audience engagement, particularly among younger consumers.
Founded in 1964 by A.G. Hinniappuhami, Zellers is recognised as Sri Lanka’s first home-grown chocolate manufacturer and was later relaunched by Maliban in 2024. The brand is known for its premium bean-to-bar chocolate offering, combining rich flavours, bold fillings, and modern packaging to deliver an elevated chocolate experience in the Sri Lankan market.
Sysco Reports Strong Q3 FY2026 Performance
Sysco Corporation has reported strong financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026, posting total sales of USD 20.5 billion for the 13 weeks ended 28 March 2026, reflecting a 4.7% year-on-year increase.
Supporting this global performance is Sysco LABS Sri Lanka, Sysco’s benchmarked global innovation centre, which plays a key role in developing and maintaining the technology infrastructure that enables Sysco to operate at scale and improve efficiency across its global network.
Sysco LABS teams in Sri Lanka contribute to the development of digital ordering platforms, warehouse management systems, intelligent pricing tools, and other technology solutions that support Sysco’s operations across approximately 730,000 customer locations, 337 distribution centres, and 10 countries, with a workforce exceeding 75,000 employees worldwide.
Commenting on the performance, Sysco LABS Managing Director Thushera Kawdawatta said the results reflect the strong contribution of the Sri Lanka-based teams to Sysco’s “Recipe for Growth” strategy, highlighting their role in delivering technology-driven innovation that supports business expansion, efficiency, and value creation across the organisation.
On the financial front, U.S. Foodservice Operations generated USD 14.2 billion in sales (up 3.1%), while International Foodservice Operations recorded USD 3.9 billion (up 12.4%). Gross profit rose 6.5% to USD 3.8 billion, with gross margin expanding to 18.6%, driven by improved volumes, sourcing efficiencies, and cost management.
Adjusted net earnings stood at USD 452 million, with adjusted diluted EPS of USD 0.94. Year-to-date operating cash flow increased 11% to USD 1.5 billion, while free cash flow rose 19% to USD 1.1 billion, underscoring the company’s strong cash generation and operational resilience.
Zellers Names Sri Lanka’s First AI Avurudu Kumara and Kumariya
