From Rs. 200,000 to 135 Outlets: The Startup Story Behind Cecrafto

Meet Rifak Ahmed, Founder of Cecrafto (Private) Limited – a Sri Lankan wellness-focused food and beverage brand that is redefining how people experience natural, functional drinks.

A Bold Leap in 2021

Based in Galle, Rifak is a Chemical and Process Engineering graduate from the University of Moratuwa. He has over three years of experience in product development, including work at the Center for Biomedical Innovation.

After nearly four years in the corporate world, he decided to take a bold leap. In 2021, he started Cecrafto with a friend and just Rs. 200,000. There was no business background behind him and no big capital to fall back on. Everything was built from scratch.

That kind of beginning is familiar to many in the startup Sri Lanka scene, where founders often start small and grow step by step rather than through large investments.

Science Meets Tradition

Cecrafto began with a low-sugar kombucha made from premium Ceylon tea along with local fruits and spices. The product combined traditional fermentation methods with modern scientific knowledge — a natural fit for a founder with an engineering and product development background.

Today, the brand has expanded well beyond that first drink. Its range now includes products such as classic ginger beer and hot sauce. All of them are rooted in the same three ideas: wellness, simplicity, and natural ingredients.

Growing Across the Island

The growth story is a striking one. Cecrafto started by supplying just one retailer in Galle. It now serves over 135 cafes, restaurants, hotels, and retail stores across Sri Lanka’s key tourist destinations.

The company produces thousands of liters each month and caters mainly to tourists, expats, and health-conscious locals — three groups that have driven strong demand for natural and functional drinks in recent years.

A Story of Resilience

Rifak’s journey is a testament to innovation, resilience, and the power of believing that thoughtful science and tradition together can create better products for people.

For anyone building a startup, the lesson is a practical one. A small amount of capital, a clear product idea, and a willingness to learn along the way can be enough to start. Cecrafto went from a single retailer to more than 135 outlets in a few short years, and it did so by staying focused on quality ingredients and a simple, honest product.