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"Our outlets would offer the essence of pure South Indian flavour in a new-age ambience."

Kochi , March 23

THE Muthoot Group, a key player in Kerala's financial services, insurance, real estate development and hospitality sector, will be rolling out a national chain of kaapi (coffee) clubs.

Talking to a group of journalists at the first kaapi club to be launched in the country at Kottayam, Mr George Muthoot, Executive Director, said that the new chain would be different from the likes of Barista and Coffee Day in that it will provide the essence of pure South Indian flavour in a new-age ambience.

The differentiating factor would be that the kaapi club would be serving South Indian culinary delights, which have already carved out a niche market in the northern and western markets in a spruced up upmarket style. The dosas would be unique in that there will be four different bases - the red tomato dosa, the green pudina chutney dosa, the yellow saffron dosa and the normal dosa. There will be even greater variety in fillings, ranging from duck, chicken, kheema, prawns to a variety of vegetarian delicacies.

To start with the group plans to roll out 3-4 new outlets during the year at Bangalore, Delhi, Pune and Indore. The second phase would focus on the Mumbai metro. The group is also seriously examining the possibility of opening new outlets in UAE countries. "This can be considered as an extension of our entry into the hospitality business where we opened up the 40-cottage Cardamom County in Thekkady," Mr George said. The group is also looking at properties at Mararikulam to set up a beach resort and also a backwater retreat at Kumarakom.

Authentic and differentiating flavours of coffee will be another hallmark of the new venture. Kaapi club plans to introduce its own coffee blend in the coming months. "We will have our own blend. We hope to establish the kaapi club blend as a brand in itself," Mr George said.

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