The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Survival of the nippat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 10, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Survival of the nippat

BANGALORE: Shaking off the threat from big retail chains, neighbourhood traders are confident of retaining their clientele.

`Kaka' shops

Run by Malabar Muslims, they offer exclusives such as Unniappams, kalathappams, Calicut halwa, parippu vadas, Kerala papads, coconut oil and readymade Kerala parathas and idiappams. During Onam and other Malayali festivals, these shops stock palada to make payasam.

According to Abdul Rasheed K., owner of a provision store-cum-bakery in Vivek Nagar Extension, many of his customers feel intimidated by the ambience of a large retail chain outlet. "They still prefer our stores," he said.

Iyengar's Bakery

Chronic labour problems have led to closure of some of these markers of old Bangalore. The need to constantly add new products to meet changing tastes makes survival an uphill task. Khara nippat, rave kodbale, ragi biscuit, rusk, capsicum buns and wheat bread at the five-decade-old Srinivasa Brahmin (SB) Bakery on DVG Road in Basavanagudi are a big hit.

Provision stores

Some of the small shops maintain that the retail chains have not affected their business. "Though supermarkets and `Buy n Save' outlets have come up in every locality, people still prefer small provision stores for their daily home needs.

HOPCOMS

HOPCOMS officials admit the impact from big chains. A senior official said supermarket chains are into "cut throat business."

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