APAC Insider- Q3 2024 | 22 Barista Coffee Lanka Ltd is immensely proud to be Sri Lanka’s largest cafe chain. Creating a careful blend of Italian coffee excellence with a dash of truly exceptional customer service, the brand has been using this tried and tested approach for almost 25 years, serving countless happy customers across 35 locations distributed throughout the island. Each of these destinations has become synonymous with quality, attracting coffee enthusiasts from every corner of the nation seeking to satisfy their cravings. Best Cafe Chain CEO 2024 (Sri Lanka): Dilupa Pathirana Transporting the authentic taste of Italian coffee more than 7,500 km to the beautiful island of Sri Lanka, all of the baristas at Barista Coffee Lanka Ltd (Barista) are trained rigorously so that they may master the skilled art of providing everyone who enters with the perfect cup of coffee. Boasting an extensive and reasonably priced menu comprised of everything from espresso shots and cappuccinos through to macchiatos, coffee fans of every persuasion will find an array of flavours under these roofs for them to enjoy time and again. More than just delectable coffee, Barista thrives by creating an experience. The team here recognise that customer experience is key for creating memorable moments for guests, so this is exactly what they do. From the minute one enters into one of Barista’s cafes, they will be greeted with a smile and guided towards choosing the best drink for their specific tastes. Equally as terrific is the ambience of these cafes, which contributes to a warm, cosy environment ideally suited for working, socialising, or simply unwinding. At the helm of this coffee enterprise is CEO Dilupa Pathirana, who has worked for the brand in a management capacity since back in 2018. Kicking off his tenure as Barista’s General Manager, it would be three years later in October 2021 that Dilupa would accept the promotion to CEO, a role he has continued to excel in ever since. With a background of more than 15 years in the hospitality and food and beverage industry, Dilupa is an unabashed expert in the likes of business strategy, brand development, and leadership. When Dilupa first came to Barista six years ago, it had just seven outlets. Using his unique insight, he transformed the brand from third place in the market to its leader, opening up an additional 18 outlets in his first five years alone. As well as achieving a staggering 160% year-on-year growth and 240% EBITDA growth for the end of the last financial year, Dilupa also had the responsibility of transforming operations during the pandemic, allowing the brand to thrive by turning to using digital e-commerce platforms in this uncertain period. Perhaps most importantly though, across his time with the brand so far, Dilupa has served as an influencer. Setting the goals for the business to achieve and always leading by example, it is Dilupa who inspires, motivates, and guides the team towards achieving the company’s vision. In essence, this overarching mission is for Barista to be the undisputed leader in this field and the preferred cafe chain for people right across Sri Lanka, all whilst making positive contributions in the lives of patrons, its team, and the wider community. Having adapted over the past two decades to meet the demands of its customers and the wider industry, Barista has introduced such initiatives as a mobile app, a drive-through, an online store, and a store within a store model to further streamline the customer experience. A number of sustainable initiatives have similarly followed, such as utilising sugarcane coffee cups to reduce its impact on the environment. Such measures highlight why Barista has been the cafe of choice for Sri Lankans for almost a quarter of a century. There are a number of dealsweetening initiatives available for Barista customers, such as its Barista Crown rewards programme, which sees loyalty rewarded with points, perks, and discounts. Every 100 Sri Lankan Rupees spent provides points, which can then be used at any of the dozens of locations across the island. Moreover, through Barista Crown, members can enjoy a 25% discount on their birthday, as well as a 15% discount on all coffees across their birthday month. It is no wonder Barista Crown already has more than 85,000 active members. With CEO Dilupa Pathirana heading up this ever-expanding operation, Barista Coffee Lanka Ltd is destined for ongoing greatness. We eagerly await whatever comes next for Sri Lanka’s leading cafe brand and its award-winning CEO, wishing them the best of luck for the future. Contact Details Contact: Dilupa Pathirana Company: Barista Coffee Lanka Ltd Web Address: https://barista.lk/ May24244
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