With many States facing a power crunch, kirana shops as well as customers are facing the heat in terms of ice cream sales and consumption respectively.
Kirana shop owners in various parts of Mumbai are complaining and have stopped stocking ice cream. “There is no point in storing ice cream if it's going to melt. We have stopped selling ice cream in the past few months,” said Mr Ashok Shah from Shah General Stores in suburban Mulund.
Mr Rajesh Gandhi, President, Indian Ice cream Manufacturers' Association, said, “Ice cream sales would grow 30 to 40 per cent more if the power situation in the country is stable. Sales in tier-two cities have been most affected by the power cuts.”
Although no data have been collected, the impact of the power cuts has definitely been felt. “There are two serious problems — one, distributors and retailers are not willing to stock material due to the power shortage, and consumers are not buying because they are not able to stock ice cream,” said Mr Gandhi.
Ice cream major Amul is not facing the power shortage in its own State of Gujarat but at the same time is conscious of the impending problem. Mr Jayen Mehta, Assistant GM -- Marketing, GCMMF, said, “In our industry we depend on electricity. We have been impacted in the power-deficit States such as UP and Bihar, but have managed to tide over the crisis with electric chargers which can do the job of providing electricity during power cuts.”
The power shortage is a national issue and as of today it is still at a nascent stage. “If it continues, we will have to take up this issue and hold an emergency meeting for the same. The main problem is that we don't know who to address this issue to,” added Mr Gandhi of the ice cream manufacturers' association.