THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State government-undertaking Meat Products of India (MPI) is opening new franchisee-run outlets in key spots in the district. On Wednesday, MPI opened an outlet on the Senate House Campus of the Kerala University at Palayam, and five more are in the pipeline. One outlet will shortly be opened on the Kariavattom campus of the university, while outlets are planned near the Technopark at Kazhakkoottam, and at the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) outlet at East Fort.
MPI will also roll out its first fully-refrigerated unit in the district, MPI managing director Dr Ani S Das said. ‘’The outlets on the university campuses are being run by the Kerala University Staff Housing Co-operative Society. At present, we have 11 outlets in the districts, and plan to open more through franchisees,’’ he said.
In its plans to open more outlets here, the MPI was encouraged by the ‘bumper’ meat sales witnessed during Christmas, New Year and Easter, when there was a huge demand, especially for chicken, pork and turkey.
The MPI, which is headquartered at Koothattukulam in Ernakulam district, was established in 1973. At present, MPI has around 41 products - pork, chicken, beef and mutton.
‘’All the products are available at the existing outlets in the district and will be available in all the proposed outlets as well,’’ Ani S Das said.