With prices of essential commodities going through the roof, public distribution shops (PDS) in Kerala are back in action.
Apart from Maveli, Sabari and Labham stores, supermarkets, People’s Bazars and Hypermarkets of the Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) have once again started attracting customers. The corporation operates around 3,000 outlets across the state.
Supplyco officials told Business Standard there had been a huge increase in the sale during the last 2-3 months, especially at supermarkets in major towns. The sales turnover increased to Rs 192 crore this November as against Rs 155 crore in the same period last month and touched Rs 125 crore as on December 20.
According to estimates, the corporation sees, on an average, 10 million footfalls at its various outlets on a monthly basis.
Buoyed by this, Supplyco has set an all-time high sales target of Rs 265 crore during this Onam season. The annual sales turnover is expected to cross Rs 2,300 crore by March 2010, as against Rs 1,850 crore in 2008-09.
The sharp rise in prices of essential items, vegetables and fish has upset the family budget, said traders.
Most of the essential items at PDS are 40-50 per cent lower than the open market prices. Consumers said they could save at least Rs 300 on the purchase for one month.
Supplyco has opened six special Christmas – New Year Bazars in the cities and 56 outlets in taluk centres across the state. The corporation, which opened its first hyper market in Kochi, plans to open 3 more at Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Thalassery this financial year.
