Since 2010, eight big shopping malls have come up in Bangalore, arrayed all the way from Whitefield to Rajrajeshwari Nagar, not counting innumerable brand outlets.

They are like an all-in-one paradise – shopping, multiplex and food courts, everything that is required for a perfect outing. Thousands of people throng these food courts every day to munch their favourites from pizzas to north Indian or Chinese food. The manager of Transit food court in Forum mall in Koramangala, Mr Omar said, “Approximately we have 3,040 customers every day.”

After spending more than half the day in the mall, human psychology is to get hold of the available resources at the food court to satisfy taste buds rather than finding a restaurant outside, as NIMHANS psychologist Dr Mira Malhotra pointed out.

Another key point of attraction is the entertainment zone, especially for kids. Besides, food courts are more spacious and offer a wide range of cuisine.

These food courts have at least 15-18 counters ranging from traditional south Indian food to pastas and seafood, with chain outlets such as Dominos to Georgia coffee and whatnot available at moderate prices. The owner of the Shivsagar Hotel Mr Manjunath who is also the major shareholder of the food court in Gopalan Mall at Rajrajeshwari Nagar said, “More customers step into the food courts because of the variety of food available and at moderate prices.”

“Although I have a hotel, the food court is more lucrative,”he added.

Food courts have started putting the restaurant business in Bangalore in the shade, even though there are many food joints in the city. A popular food joint in Bangalore, Koshys, accounts for almost 600-650 customers every day making a business of around Rs18,000 whereas a single counter in Forum does an average business of Rs 40,000-50,000 and around Rs80,000 on weekends.

Another shopping centre in Koramangla, The Oasis, which had a complete restaurant chain a year back on the top floor has converted recently into a food court. The mall owner Micky Jatiny said, “ Restaurants prove to be much more costly to the people, with the same monotonous foodbeing available.”

If the average business of the food court counters is critically analysed we find that a beverage parlour does business of approximately Rs 2000 to Rs 12,000 a day with around 75 to 210 customers. Popular food joints like Beijing, FNC Seafood, Shivsagar, and Pizza Hut outlets do average business of around Rs 20,000-Rs 50,000 with approximately 80-250 customers a day. Apart from these big food joints, there are also smaller counters selling doughnuts, chocolates and frankies that do business of around Rs 10,000. Counter supervisors said that most of the counters were rented and carried out their business on percentage basis with a higher profit margin unlike hotels.

The co-founder of Mastkalandar restaurant Gaurav Jain said, “In spite of offering food at a moderate price restaurants are choked as people are lured by the glam and glitz of shopping malls.”

The major problems faced by restaurants are high real estate costs, lack of cold storage facilities, and supply chain infrastructure. Going to restaurants was a sign of aristocracy in the earlier days; likewise food courts form an integral part of the lifestyle of the urban crowds nowadays.

The challenge posed by the food courts to the restaurants is not limited to Bangalore; it has spread to other metropolitan cities like Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai as well. In Kolkata itself about five shopping malls came up in 2011.

Restaurants definitely offer exclusive food but they need to cope with the latest trends and tastes and offer better prices. Then there is the question of real estate.

(Krittika is a student of the Indian Institute of Journalism and News Media, Bangalore.)

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