BENGALURU: Summer in Bengaluru has reached a new level this week, with the temperature touching 41 degrees Celcius. In order to beat the heat, citizens are flocking to fruit and juice stalls.
Hopcoms outlets have joined the market with the sale of grapes and mango juices. Fruit concentrates sold by farmers are used to make the drinks, which are served with ice.
Around 50 such shops hope to make a profit by quenching people’s thirst with natural fruit juices this hot season.
Nanjundegowda, who runs the Hopcoms outlet in Lalbagh, says his customers like both the grapes and mango juice varieties. “The drinks are a hit as they are healthy and contain no added flavours,” he says.
Another shopkeeper, who did not wish to be named, says his clientele has increased by 200 to 500 customers, thanks to the heat. While they prefer mango to grape, the Nandini milk products and PaperBoat drinks are also fast moving, he adds.
The juices are sold at Rs 15 per glass at the outlet. “Competition from hawkers who move about and sell drinks to people at twice the cost are affecting my business,” he rues.
Nagaraj, who has been running the outlet in Cubbon Park for 50 years, says business this summer has been the same as last year. Around 150 people buy juice at his shop and most of them prefer grapes, he adds. The outlet also has dry fruits on offer.
The overall sales at Hopcoms outlets in the city has increased from Rs 1.5 crore last year to Rs 1.6 crore this year, says R Prasanth, Assistant Director, Department of Horticulture.
“Harvested grapes and mangoes are turned into pulp and sold to the Hopcoms outlets,” says Prashanth, adding that the standard marginal price will be maintained, according the the ‘no loss, no profit’ policy.
Paper Boat and ON Juice products are also sold at these outlets after being approved by FCCI and CFTRI to guarantee food safety.
“A propsal has been submitted to the government to increase the number of Hopcoms outlets in the city. Our long term goal is to set up manufacturing units and launch our own brand of natural jams and jelly,” Prasanth further added.