The restaurants, which are expected to offer a range of mouth-watering delicacies, is expected to be operated by the self-help groups registered with Matsyafed.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Close on the heels of coming out with a chain of hi-tech fresh fish marts in the state, the Kerala State Co-operative Federation for Fisheries Development (Matsyafed) will soon venture into restaurant business. As per sources, Matsyafed is ‘actively considering’ a business proposal of starting a chain of seafood restaurants in the state, in which the first one will come up at Cherthala in Alappuzha. The restaurants, which are expected to offer a range of mouth-watering delicacies, is expected to be operated by the self-help groups registered with Matsyafed.
“To ensure the restaurants have a common layout, a concept design has been prepared. The menu, while offering a range of sea-food delicacies, also takes care of vegetarians as they have a thing or two to choose from it,” said the source.
Confirming the development, Matsyafed managing director Lawrence Harold told Express on an experimental basis the first restaurant will be started at Alappuzha. According to him, with the help of the panchayat Matsyafed had inspected some areas and once a suitable space gets finalised, works for the same will get started. “More than the profit, we want to provide the delicacies to customers at reasonable rates. Utmost care will be taken to set an ambience that attracts the young generation also. Other than that of providing the sought after ‘karimeen pollichathu’, prawns, fish molee and others, the restaurant will also have a counter that will sell Matsyafed’s value-added products,” said Lawrence.
At the same time, the MD also said the proposed restaurant will not feature specialised cooks as the delicacies will be sourced locally from those women who have a penchant for making such dishes. According to him, six to eight women have already been identified for this.
Meanwhile, Matsyafed chairman P P Chitharanjan said starting a restaurant chain is second priority as the first and foremost task before it is to procure fish directly from fishermen to fish markets. “With concerns prevailing in the market over formalin laced fish in markets, Fisheries Minister J Mercykutty Amma has asked us to focus our attention on procuring fish from fish-landing centres so as to distribute it to the fish markets. Through this we could ensure supply of fresh fish and a justifiable price for fishermen,” said Chitharanjan. He said, the intervention of Matsyafed in fish-markets is most likely to happen by Onam.