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From the French countryside to the coast of Italy, Godrej Nature’s Basket brings gourmet food to the Indian consumer’s doorstep. This month, the gourmet retailer is tying up with Via Milano in Bangalore and Hyderabad for a workshop on soups from around the world.
On August 8, consumers can partake of a wide array of soups at Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills store. On August 22, soups from across the world will be showcased at the Koramangala Store in Bangalore.
The gourmet retailer has been tying up with chefs and celebrities in a year-long event to bring Indian consumers closer to epicurean food. “We decided to get into high-end food retailing to be distinctive. It is important to hand-hold people into increased consumption of these types of food,” says Tanya Dubash, Executive Director and President, Marketing division of the Godrej Group.
Globally, gourmet foods are a $16-billion market. In India, it is currently pegged at Rs 6,500 crore, growing at a compounded annual growth rate of 20 per cent. With the market set to cross Rs 13,700 crore by 2015, according to Technopak, gourmet sampling appears to have taken a quantum leap.
“Though many Indians are exposed to gourmet food, it is new for most people here. We feel the Indian consumer is ready for high-end foods, especially the youth, who are driving consumption pattern changes,” says Dubash.
Nature’s Basket has hosted several international festivals, cooking demos and cheese as well as wine tastings, all of which have kept the retailer buzzing. A first-of-its-kind store that started off at Warden Road, South Mumbai, has now spawned across the country.
To realise its expansion plans, the gourmet retailer has, for the past year, been donning several hats.
Last March, Godrej Nature’s Basket teamed up with the French Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries to showcase the finest French wines and cheeses.
In June 2011, it brought home the taste of Italy in association with the European Art of Taste. In August, it was on to Mexican cuisine - from bright red chillies to buttery avocados.
With same store sales (deferential in revenue generated by a retail chain’s existing outlets over a certain period) growing 50 per cent annually, Nature’s Basket is keen to engage with the consumer.
“We have 20 stores now. Though we don’t have a particular strategy…. we are keen to add,” Dubash adds.
amritanair.ghaswalla@thehindu.co.in
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