The popular home-made chocolates of Ooty have made its way to Vellore. Chocolate lovers can now get a packet of the sumptuous treats at Karpagam Cooperative Supermarket in Vellore.
A number of varieties of the Ooty home-made chocolates are on sale at the supermarket for the last 15 days. The chocolates have been introduced in the supermarket to give the taste of the authentic Ooty home-made chocolates for Vellore residents, officials said.
“We have purchased the chocolates from a manufacturer in Kandhal, Ooty and are packaging it under Karpagam brand,” said R. Dhayalan, joint registrar of Cooperative Societies and managing director of the Vellore District Consumers’ Cooperative Wholesale Stores Ltd.
40 varieties
Out of the nearly 40 varieties of home-made chocolates available with the manufacturer, around 10 varieties have been purchased for the supermarket.
This includes plain white chocolate, plain milk, whole cashew nut, almond, crackles, fruit and nut, butter scotch and raisins.
“We have initially made a purchase of 60 kg of chocolates to see the response among customers. We will decide on further purchase depending on the response,” he added.
In fact, officials said that they planned and introduced the Ooty chocolates now keeping Deepavali in mind. They are looking at opportunities to publicise the sale of the Ooty chocolates among customers.
Varkey
In addition, the department is also getting the popular Ooty “varkey” for the supermarket. A team of officials had gone to Ooty to study firms making varkey and home-made chocolates.
“We have placed orders for maida and wheat Ooty ‘varkey’. We are purchasing varkey and chocolates from a maker in Kandhal area. Ooty varkey is likely to arrive this week. Once we get the varkey, we will put up a board at the entrance to inform the public that both chocolates and varkey are available at the supermarket,” Mr. Dhayalan added.
He said that the chocolates were being sold at a minimum margin rate.
Cost
The cost of a 200 g packet of the chocolates is as follows depending on variety - plain white (Rs. 70), plain milk (Rs. 67), nut milk (Rs. 87), bitter nut (Rs. 87), whole cashew nut (Rs. 90), almond (Rs. 100), 2 in 1 (Rs. 67), butter scotch (Rs. 80), crackles (Rs. 75), fruit and nut (Rs. 80), dates (Rs. 80), raisins (Rs. 75), white butter scotch (Rs. 80) and assorted (Rs. 110).
He said that already Ooty tea was being sold at the Karpagam supermarket and ration shops.
