All vegetarian KFC, Subway, McDonald.. and Marriott ~ in Gujarat

Economics is an interesting subject; no, not at the time when you are studying !

There is Supply and Demand - one of the most fundamental concepts of economics and it is the backbone of a market economy. Demand refers to how much (quantity) of a product or service is desired by buyers. Supply represents how much the market can offer. The relationship between demand and supply underlie the forces behind the allocation of resources. In market economy theories, demand and supply theory will allocate resources in the most efficient way possible. The law of demand states that, if all other factors remain equal, the higher the price of a good, the less people will demand that good.  The law of Supply would state that other things being equal, higher the price, more would be the quantity supplied. Of course, supply may not be able to cater to demands all the time………… and Demand determines the Supply.

KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) is now everywhere in India; it is a fast food restaurant chain headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, specializing  in fried chicken.  KFC founded by Harland Sanders, is  "American icon",  being  world's largest fried chicken chain. 

Bachelor in Paradise is a 1961 Metrocolor romantic comedy film starring Bob Hope and Lana Turner. It was directed by Jack Arnold.  Down under, in Chennai, Triplicane is often referred as the bachelor’s paradise.  Its existence has been recorded from very ancient times including the  Pallava period.  During the time of British in 1600s, Triplicane was a separate village. Settlement developed with its proximity to Fort St George, the power of seat those days.    The famous Marina beach and its surroundings provides dwelling to so many people who have moved to Chennai from villages seeking greener pastures and to thousands of visitors. 

There are so many Mansions and lodges in the lanes and by-lanes of Triplicane. One reason for their flourishing business and continued occupancy is Triplicane being well connected with all business points of Chennai; another important aspect is the availability of good Hotels – a la ‘Mess’ providing to the taste buds at reasonable costs. 

The bachelors [that would include forced ones staying away from family] frequent Rathna Café, Murali Café.  Sydoji Cafe and Kasi Vinayaka Mess ~ there are more and to name a few more – Ambal Mess, Bharathi Mess, Neo Mitra Bhavan, Vadivelan mess and there are so many smaller ones without even name boards…….. all providing quality food which never affects the stomach of the eaters.  Kasi Vinayaka in Akbar Sahib Street is interesting……. it has two coloured token system.  Unlike other places, one cannot go and just occupy the vacant place.  There would be 2 rows of 20 seats each. They call the nos. and the waiting people would occupy one row – say the one in the left…… all of them are served, as being served in a Marriage hall. Then people are seated on the other row ……..

For long Triplicane had fine quality Vegetarian messes…… now, there mostly are non-vegetarian messes or many of Veg messes serve omlette too……… perhaps the market forces – the demand determines the supply……. Perhaps there more number of NV eaters and hence the supply of pure Veg messes have become scarce.  Sad for a pure Vegetarian

Miles away in the paradise of Gujarat, there is something happening….. ‘An all-vegetarian KFC for Gujarat’.  Sounds incredulous.   Newspaper reports suggest that at Ahmedabad, KFC wount supply - ham sandwiches,fried chicken buckets and beef patties but would offer a pure vegetarian menu……. ~ same to be followed as a market practice by other global fast food chains like McDonalds or Subway. Don’t ask why then KFC or Subway or McDonald !  - it is not even vegetarian menu, they are contemplating traditional Jain food.   It is reported that in a first, American restaurant chain Subway has opened a Jain counter at its first all-veg outlet in the city at a location where the community has a sizeable population. The outlet offers a Jain version of its sandwiches and sells sauces without onion or garlic.

It is reported that Subway’s first all vegetarian counter was opened at a private university in Punjab recently, after which the restaurant chain decided to experiment with the Jain cuisine for Gujarat. Soon they plan to open similar outlets in Vadodara, Surat,  Rajkot, Anand, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar. Pizza Hut made its Gujarat foray with its first vegetarian restaurant in the world in Ahmedabad, offering Jain food.  In a capital market, they know what would sell and it is not specialty but sales that matter.   Ahmedabad is only city where Marriott group hotel has exclusive veg restaurant in the world.  It is stated that before opening an outlet in Ahmedabad a leading Company arranged for a Press conference of Gujarati journalists at Mumbai  to convince them that they would use separate kitchen for vegetarian food; now that they are singularly vegetarian outlets, that is not required.

With regards – S. Sampathkumar
3rd March 2013