Ceylon Cold Stores
A Sri Lankan food and beverage company whose Elephant House brand spans carbonated drinks, ice cream, and processed foods.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Ceylon Cold Stores (CCS) is a Sri Lankan food and beverage company that trades principally through the Elephant House brand. Its portfolio includes carbonated soft drinks, ice cream, processed meat products, and other chilled or prepared foods. The business is one of the long-established names in Sri Lanka’s consumer-goods sector and has developed from an ice-manufacturing and cold-storage operation into a branded mass-market food company. The company’s origins date to the nineteenth century. In 1863, an ice-making machine was imported into Ceylon, and the Colombo Ice Company was established in 1866 to manufacture ice commercially. Its early operation used steam-powered equipment and employed 22 people at premises on Glennie Street in Slave Island, Colombo. The locality became associated with the company’s colloquial name, “Ice Kompaniya.” The company subsequently expanded beyond ice. Arthur Kurt Von Possner, its first manager, introduced aerated water sold under an elephant trademark. That identity later developed into Elephant House, which became the company’s enduring consumer-facing name. Early products included soda and lemonade. The drinks received recognition at international fairs in Melbourne and Calcutta, helping establish the business as more than a local ice supplier. Over the following decades, the company consolidated operations and acquired or absorbed several related businesses. It acquired the business and goodwill of J. Maitland’s medical hall in 1880, was later reorganized after liquidation, and resumed operations as the New Colombo Ice Company in 1894. It bought the Galle Face Ice Company’s business and plant in 1910, acquired Von Possner’s British Aerated and Mineral Water Company in 1919, and purchased the Pure Ice and Aerated Waters Manufactory in 1928. The company broadened its industrial base during the 1920s and 1930s. It replaced an older steam-driven ice plant with a newer internal-combustion installation, built cold-storage facilities for frozen products, and acquired Ceylon Creameries in 1932 to produce and distribute reconstituted milk and ice cream. In 1934, it purchased the Ceylon Ice and Cold Storage Company. A carbonic-acid gas plant was added in 1935, enabling the production of carbon dioxide and dry ice, while bakery equipment allowed the company to produce bread. These moves created the foundations for a diversified chilled-food and beverage business. The New Colombo Ice Company adopted the name Ceylon Cold Stores Limited in 1941. The company later became more closely associated with Sri Lankan corporate ownership and management; Mallory Wijesinghe became its first Ceylonese chairman in 1964. CCS was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in January 1970. In 1991, it entered the John Keells Holdings group when John Keells acquired the Whittalls Group. John Keells Holdings subsequently became the company’s majority shareholder, with the reference material identifying a 54 percent holding. Modernization has focused on manufacturing scale and bottling capacity. A modern bottling plant was installed at the Kaduwela factory in 1998, substantially increasing production capability. In 2007, John Keells Holdings reinvested close to one billion Sri Lankan rupees in a new factory line described as state of the art at the time. The Elephant House soft-drinks business remains a major participant in Sri Lanka’s carbonated-beverage market, competing with multinational brands such as Coca-Cola and Pepsi. CCS therefore combines a nineteenth-century industrial heritage with a contemporary consumer portfolio centered on local distribution, recognizable branding, and high-volume beverage and frozen-food production.
History
Ceylon Cold Stores traces its history to the development of commercial ice production in nineteenth-century Ceylon. An ice-making machine was imported in 1863, and the Colombo Ice Company was established in 1866 with capital of £1,600, two steam engines rated at eight and nine horsepower, and a workforce of 22. Its first premises were on Glennie Street in Slave Island, Colombo. The enterprise became sufficiently prominent that the surrounding area was popularly associated with “Ice Kompaniya,” a local rendering of Ice Company. The original business was principally concerned with producing and selling ice, but it soon moved into beverages and related products. Arthur Kurt Von Possner, the company’s first manager, introduced aerated water marked with an elephant symbol. The symbol eventually evolved into the Elephant House identity, which became the best-known trading name connected with Ceylon Cold Stores. The early beverage range consisted of soda and lemonade, products that reportedly received awards at fairs in Melbourne and Calcutta. The company expanded through acquisitions and corporate reorganizations. In 1880, the Colombo Ice Company acquired the business and goodwill of J. Maitland’s medical hall, which sold various products including medicated wine. After the company entered liquidation, a syndicate led by Tom Walker acquired it and formed the New Colombo Ice Company on 8 May 1894. The new company acquired the Galle Face Ice Company’s business and plant from J. P. Motten in 1910 for Rs. 45,000. In 1919 it purchased Von Possner’s British Aerated and Mineral Water Company for Rs. 175,000, strengthening its position in carbonated beverages. Technological investment continued in the early twentieth century. A new ice-manufacturing plant driven by an internal-combustion engine replaced the older ten-ton steam plant in 1923. By 1925, the company was developing cold-storage capacity for frozen goods, and new Colombo cold stores opened on 1 December 1928. That same year, the business acquired the Pure Ice and Aerated Waters Manufactory. These developments marked a transition from a narrow ice producer to an integrated cold-chain, beverage, and food enterprise. Further diversification followed in the 1930s. Ceylon Creameries Limited was acquired in 1932, giving the company a platform for reconstituted fresh milk and ice cream production and distribution. In 1934, the New Colombo Ice Company bought the Ceylon Ice and Cold Storage Company for Rs. 850,000. A carbonic-acid gas plant installed in 1935 supplied carbon dioxide and dry ice, while a bread-making machine and modern oven enabled the company to add bread to its output. The New Colombo Ice Company changed its name to Ceylon Cold Stores Limited in 1941. The business increasingly reflected the development of local corporate leadership: Mallory Wijesinghe became its first Ceylonese chairman in 1964. CCS was listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in January 1970. Its corporate history changed again in 1991 when it came under the John Keells Holdings group through John Keells’ acquisition of the Whittalls Group. John Keells Holdings became the majority shareholder, with the supplied reference material recording a 54 percent stake. Manufacturing modernization was an important part of the company’s later development. CCS installed a modern bottling plant at its Kaduwela factory in 1998, materially increasing production capacity. In 2007, John Keells Holdings committed close to one billion Sri Lankan rupees to a new factory line. The company’s current identity is primarily associated with Elephant House, whose products compete in Sri Lanka with international soft-drink companies including Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Its historical evolution—from ice production, to cold storage, to aerated drinks, dairy, bakery, frozen products, and processed foods—explains the breadth of the modern Ceylon Cold Stores portfolio.
- 2007
New factory line installed
[1]John Keells Holdings reinvested close to one billion Sri Lankan rupees in a new factory line.
- 1998
Kaduwela bottling plant modernized
[1]A modern bottling plant was installed at the Kaduwela factory, increasing production capacity.
- 1991
Joined the John Keells Holdings group
[1]CCS came under John Keells Holdings following the latter’s acquisition of the Whittalls Group.
- 1970
Listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange
[1]Ceylon Cold Stores became a listed company in January.
- 1964
First Ceylonese chairman appointed
[1]Mallory Wijesinghe became the company’s first Ceylonese chairman.
- 1941
Company renamed Ceylon Cold Stores
[1]The New Colombo Ice Company adopted the name Ceylon Cold Stores Limited.
- 1935
Carbonic-acid gas plant added
[1]A new plant enabled production of carbon dioxide and dry ice; bakery equipment also supported bread production.
- 1932
Ceylon Creameries acquired
[1]The acquisition expanded the company into reconstituted milk and ice cream production and distribution.
- 1928
Cold stores opened in Colombo
[1]The company opened new cold-storage facilities on 1 December and acquired the Pure Ice and Aerated Waters Manufactory.
- 1923
New ice plant installed
[1]An internal-combustion-engine-driven ice plant replaced the company’s earlier steam-powered installation.
Products and positioning
A long-established Sri Lankan mass-market food and beverage producer built around the Elephant House consumer brand, with particular strength in carbonated drinks and ice cream.
Carbonated beverages
Elephant House carbonated soft drinks
Elephant House carbonated drinks are the company’s principal beverage line and descend from the aerated-water business introduced during the company’s early history. The portfolio is associated with the Elephant trademark and competes in Sri Lanka’s mass-market soft-drink segment against both domestic and multinational producers.
Frozen desserts · 1932
Elephant House ice cream
Ice cream became part of the company’s portfolio after the acquisition of Ceylon Creameries in 1932. The line extends CCS beyond beverages into chilled and frozen consumer foods and remains one of the best-known product categories associated with the Elephant House identity.
Processed foods
Processed meat products
Ceylon Cold Stores produces processed meat products as part of its broader food portfolio. The category reflects the company’s evolution from ice and beverage production into prepared and packaged foods sold through Sri Lankan consumer channels.
Dairy · 1932
Reconstituted milk and dairy products
The acquisition of Ceylon Creameries enabled CCS to produce and distribute reconstituted fresh milk as well as ice cream. Dairy products were an important part of the company’s mid-twentieth-century diversification into temperature-sensitive foods.
Bakery · 1935
Bread and bakery products
The company added bread production after purchasing bread-making equipment and a modern oven in the 1930s. This line illustrates the breadth of the historical Ceylon Cold Stores business, although the supplied material does not establish its current scale or status.
Brand decisions
2007
Investment in a new factory lineStrategyBackground
CCS required continued modernization to support its beverage and food manufacturing operations.
Action taken
John Keells Holdings invested close to one billion Sri Lankan rupees in a new factory line.
Aftermath
The investment strengthened the company’s manufacturing platform and supported continued competition in Sri Lanka’s beverage market.
Capital investment. Close to one billion Sri Lankan rupees invested (2007)
1998
Bottling-capacity expansion at KaduwelaStrategyBackground
Growing demand for branded soft drinks required greater production and packaging capacity.
Action taken
CCS installed a modern bottling plant at its Kaduwela factory.
Aftermath
The investment considerably increased the company’s production capacity.
1991
Integration into John Keells HoldingsM&ABackground
The acquisition of the Whittalls Group changed CCS’s corporate ownership structure.
Action taken
Ceylon Cold Stores became part of the John Keells Holdings group, which became its majority shareholder.
Aftermath
The relationship provided a larger corporate group through which CCS later received significant manufacturing investment.
1932
Acquisition of Ceylon CreameriesM&ABackground
CCS was broadening from ice and aerated water into temperature-sensitive consumer foods.
Action taken
The company acquired Ceylon Creameries Limited to produce and distribute reconstituted fresh milk and ice cream.
Aftermath
The acquisition gave CCS a durable dairy and frozen-dessert presence.
1925
Expansion into cold storageStrategyBackground
The company’s original ice-making business provided a foundation for handling other temperature-sensitive products.
Action taken
CCS moved into cold storage for frozen products and later opened new Colombo cold stores in 1928.
Aftermath
The expansion helped establish the diversified chilled-food and beverage model that later characterized the company.
1894
Reorganization as the New Colombo Ice CompanyStrategyBackground
The original Colombo Ice Company had entered liquidation, creating an opportunity for a new ownership group to acquire and continue the underlying business.
Action taken
A syndicate headed by Tom Walker purchased the business and established the New Colombo Ice Company on 8 May 1894.
Aftermath
The reorganized company continued expansion through acquisitions of ice, cold-storage, and aerated-water businesses.
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