The highlight of a five-day, all-expenses-paid visit to Italy -- where the CEAT brand name originated 92 years ago -- the awards gala at the Mercure West Roma Hotel saw tyre dealers from all parts of Sri Lanka being recognised and rewarded for their contribution to CEAT’s growth in 2015-16.
The top 10 dealers based on their sales in the last financial year, were accompanied by their spouses on the tour, which also included two nights in Venice, and an experience-packed itinerary.
“Our dealers are a vital element in our growth into the highest-selling tyre brand in Sri Lanka, and we believe they should be rewarded in fitting manner,” CEAT Kelani Managing Director Mr Vijay Gambhire said.
“CEAT is a global brand and so we feel it is appropriate to give our dealers an international experience as part of their interaction with the company and the brand.”
A total of 85 awards were presented at the awards night, including 45 awards of excellence, 25 awards for top performers in the Radial tyre category and five awards each in the Truck, Light Truck and Three-wheeler categories.
The tour itinerary of the dealers encompassed visits to the Roman and Imperial Forums, Circus Maximus, the National Monument to Vittorio Emmanuelle II, the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica and the Colloseum during their two nights stay in Rome.
The dealers also visited the Ferrari Museum at Maranello and the Padua Church and experienced Gondola rides in Venice.
CEAT’s Top 10 dealers for 2015-16, who received rewards such as gift vouchers for the purchase of jewellery in addition to their trophies, were Nanda Tyre House, U&H Wheel Service, Sumith Marketing Co., M. J. R. Peiris & Sons, The Tyre Team, Smart Wheels, Paramount Tyre Traders, Sumidag Tyre Co., Shanthi Tyre Mart and Abdeen Tyre Service.
CEAT’s annual dealer awards nights in the two preceding years were held in Singapore and Malaysia respectively.
CEAT Kelani Holdings supplies nearly half of Sri Lanka’s overall requirement of pneumatic tyres and exports about a third of its production to countries in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East.
The company’s manufacturing operations encompass the radial, commercial, motorcycle, three-wheeler and agricultural machinery segments.
The CEAT brand accounts for market shares of 30 per cent in the radial segment, 51 per cent in the Truck/Light Truck category, 54 per cent in the 3-Wheeler segment, 17 per cent in the motorcycle segment and 72 per cent in the agricultural tyre category.
Photo caption : CEAT’s Top 10 dealers with representatives of the management at the company’s 2016 awards in Rome
