THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Yet another State Government-undertaking is venturing into the restaurant business - courtesy chicken buffs in Thiruvananthapuram. Thrilled by its Christmas-New Year sales in the capital city, the Meat Products of India (MPI) is now planning to open its first restaurant here. In this, MPI follows the footsteps of the Kerala State Poultry Development Corporation (KEPCO), which runs a hugely popular ‘chicken restaurant’ at Pettah. ‘’The Christmas and New Year sales were an eye-opener, one reason why MPI is planning a restaurant,’’ Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister K P Mohanan told City Express. ‘’Also, MPI exports a lot of its products at present. By opening a restaurant, we ensure that our people get to enjoy them instead,’’ he said. MPI managing director Ani S Das said that the state undertaking, which is headquartered at Koothattukulam in Ernakulam district, is on the lookout for a suitable location in Thiruvananthapuram for opening the restaurant. ‘’All our products will be available there,’’ he said. MPI has around 50 products covering chicken, pork, mutton, veal and turkey. With ample support from chicken and pork buffs, MPI sales for December 2011 had touched an all-time record; ` 65 lakh, which was 30 per cent over December 2010. On December 30 and 31 alone, MPI outlets in the capital city raked in ` 4 lakh. But the biggest hit turned out to be a mobile outlet rolled out after Christmas. On a single day - December 31 - it sold meat products worth ` 1.36 lakh, which prompted the MPI to make it a regular feature at Palayam on weekends. Sensing the growing demand for meat in Thiruvananthapuram - chiefly chicken and pork - MPI is planning to open about 20 more outlets here, Ani S Das said. The government undertaking has also invited EoI for dealerships in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts.
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