CHENNAI: With private producers taking a cue from State-run Aavin in increasing milk prices, tea shop owners in Chennai have decided it’s time to revise their price list as well.
E Sundaram, secretary of the Chennai Tea Shop Owners Association, said with increase in prices of milk, tea shop owners in the city have started to increase their rates since November 1.
“Some of the members of our association have increased the prices since the 1st of this month, some on the 5th, others on the 10th and quite a few will be increasing the rates from the 15th of this month,” he said. While the price of tea has been increased to Rs 8 from Rs 7, coffee prices have gone up from Rs 8 to Rs 10.
Sundaram added that the price of milk had increased by almost Rs 14 per litre in recent times and that the rates of coffee were bound to increase further, if the price of milk rises any higher.
“This hike has not impacted middle-income consumers, but those from the lower income group. The sales too have gone down,” Sundaram said.
Edwin, a construction worker, who claims he is in a fix now as he cannot afford to spend Rs 150 every day for his usual 10 cups of tea. He is now planning to cut down on consumption. However, some of the vendors have not increased their rates much.
M Badur, who supplies tea to BSNL employees in Kodambakkam says that he sells tea at Rs 6 per cup to around 80 customers a day.
According to him, the price hike, will not burden his customers, regardless of their economic background. “Right from the lower rung officials to the top managers, everyone is okay with it because Rs 1 is a meagre amount. I have my regular customers,” he added.
However, the increase in milk prices has not reflected on bigger outlets like Madras Coffee House.
“None of our 30 outlets in the city has raised the price of coffee or tea. We may hike the price at our outlets in software companies where tea and coffee are sold at Rs 15. The rich are not our primary customers, so we are not increasing the price of beverages at the moment. If there is any further increase in milk price,we are bound to increase our rates as well,” said a manager at one of the outlets.
(With inputs from Sinduja Jane)