The Hindu Business Line : Chicken sales normal in TN

THE bird flu that is sweeping East Asia is yet to have an impact on sale of chicken dishes in Chennai's eateries. Though all birds are sourced locally, hotels and restaurants in the city have taken an extra step to check on the quality of birds supplied to them.

Chicken is the most favoured meat in India and it would be extremely difficult to take it off the menu, Mr M.O. Koshy, Vice-President, GRT Grand, said. Chicken is the mainstay of the all the banquets, with fish and mutton being the second choice, he said.

A large number of people eat chicken because it is a white meat and considered to be healthier than red meat. Affordability is another reason for chicken being popular on the menu, said Mr P.J. Mammen, General Manager, Radisson. The cost of chicken averages around Rs 60 per kg while fish and mutton would cost around Rs 180 per kg.

Most of the hotels have tied up their supply with dedicated farms that are mechanised and have adequate quality control measures, sources said.

Besides the multi cuisine standalone restaurants and hotel restaurants, Chennai has three chicken speciality restaurant brands — Chick King, Marry Brown and Prime Roaster.

Mr P. Pandiyan, Chairman, Prime Roaster Restaurants and Franchises (P) Ltd, said the company has also been sourcing the birds from dedicated farms. He said that since the first report appeared in the media, the company has been taking teams of veterinary doctors to the farms and have been testing the birds for any kind of illness. But the birds are all healthy, he said. The reports have had no impact on sales in the outlet, he said.