Fresh from the Farm: How Chello Dairy’s Door-to-Door Service Reinvented Milk Delivery in Sri Lanka

For thousands of Sri Lankan households, Chello Dairy’s Door-to-Door Home Delivery has become part of the morning routine — bringing fresh, farm-sourced milk and dairy products directly to kitchen doorsteps.

From Crisis to Convenience

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional retail channels, Chello Dairy acted fast. What began as a pragmatic response to movement restrictions transformed into a long-term, customer-first delivery model. By linking smallholder farmers with urban consumers and maintaining a strict cold chain, Chello ensured families could keep enjoying fresh dairy without compromise.

How It Works

Chello’s door-to-door system is simple but carefully engineered:

• Daily collection: Milk is sourced every day from a network of smallholder farmers.
• Processing & testing: Each batch is pasteurized and quality-checked at our facility.
• Cold-chain packaging: Products are packed and chilled for transport.
• Optimized routes: Refrigerated vehicles follow mapped routes to serve neighborhoods efficiently.
• Early-morning delivery: Fresh products arrive at your door in time for breakfast.

Why Customers Choose Chello

Customers appreciate our commitment to quality, convenience, and community impact. Benefits include:

• Guaranteed freshness: Milk delivered within hours of processing.
• Strict hygiene: Cold-chain logistics and quality checks at every step.
• Flexible subscriptions: Daily or scheduled deliveries with easy adjustments.
• Factory-direct value: Competitive pricing without middlemen.

Community Impact

The Door-to-Door project supports the entire dairy value chain — from farmers to delivery staff. By securing steady demand and fair prices for milk, Chello strengthens rural livelihoods and creates jobs in local communities.

Logistics & Technology

Efficient logistics underpin the service: geo-mapping for route planning, refrigerated vehicles for cold-chain integrity, and three operation hubs (Ragama, Malabe, Ratmalana) to ensure timely dispatches. As we grow, Sales Force Automation and digital order systems will further improve performance and customer experience.

Challenges & Solutions

Scaling a perishable home-delivery business involves challenges like delivery costs, inventory management, and coverage expansion. Chello addresses these through route optimization, digital payment adoption, and partnerships with logistics providers to expand reach (Kalutara is planned next).

What’s Next

Our roadmap includes launching the Chello Direct app for seamless subscriptions and payments, loyalty rewards for regular customers, and new product lines like flavored milk, yogurt, and curds. We’re also preparing to expand into Kalutara and other districts to bring fresh dairy to more homes.