Wooing new customers at a time of soaring prices, Consumerfed, the Kerala state Cooperative Consumers Federation, will soon be launching a ‘floating superstore’ which would criss cross through Ernakulam backwaters to far flug tiny islands taking essential
commodities to customers.
The floating Triveni superstore would be formally launched on July 23 by Union minister K V Thomas at a function at nearby Panangad. State Excise minister, K Babu and Cooperative minister C N Balakrishnan would also be participating.
Consumerfed is presently operating such 2 floatingsuperstores in Vembanad lake in Kuttanad in Alapuzha district and one in Kollam. The aim is to have 6 more such floating
superstores in the backwaters of the state this year, Managing Director Dr Riji G Nair told reporters.
The per day average turnover from the three floating superstores is about Rs 75,000, he said adding the aim is to reach the products to the consumers at the same rate as it was
available in any other Triveni store on land.
Initially, the superstore would be touching at least 10 places, including Vypeen, Kumbalam and Panangad, and depending on the demand more areas would be covered, he said.
The superstore, constructed using fibre steel laminated Ferrocement which prevents decay and rusting, has a shelf space 1000 square feet and would be stocking about 2000
products of daily use, he said. It is compelete with various facilties and has solar panels for necessary power. Theavailablity of the stock at the superstore would be monitored
by the Head office and Regional office through internet, he said.
Total investment for the project, including the stocks, would be about Rs 50 lakh. The boat’s safety, strength and technology has been tested by the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) Ship Building and Naval Architecture. Forty HP Yamaha engine controls its movement.
The Consumerfed is totally targetting a turnover of about Rs 1500 crore this year against the current turnover was Rs 1297 crore. Five years ago the group’s turnover was hardly
Rs 300 crore.