Cold beverage outlets mushroom in Chennai

Due to the growing demand for cold beverages, 19 outlets of The Thickshake Factory, 7 outlets of Keventers, 5 outlets of Frozen Bottle and many other standalone fast beverage stalls like Makers of Milkshakes, Kandy’s, Dopey Donkey have emerged in the city in less than six months.

“I deliver as many thick shakes as food packets now,” revealed Anand, a Swiggy delivery executive. “Two months back, I used to delivery mainly food and snack items during afternoons and evenings. Now, I deliver so many cold beverages - maybe because of the increasing heat.”

Costing Rs 120- 150, with weekday app discounts that bring them down to Rs 80-90, one can order two, or even three thick shakes a day for the price of ordering just one meal.

“Customers who order thick shakes are generous with their tip. They do not mind paying Rs 10 to me as they feel they are spending less than Rs 100 including the tip. The summer has also led to an increase in the number of cold beverage deliveries, so more tips for me,” said Sundar, an UberEats delivery person. Sandesh Reddy, the owner of Sandy’s, a popular cafe in the city that also sells shakes, said, “The fast beverage concept is a retail trend that everyone is smartly capitalising on.”

However, L Nitin Chordia, Chief Tasting Officer, Cocotrait India, said, “This is simply a trend and it is not going to last in the long-term because it is very unhealthy. The amount of sugar and fat in a fast smoothie is doing a lot of harm for one’s body.” A smoothie or thick milkshake was concocted originally to replace a meal, with proteins, healthy fats and greens, but is being treated like a dessert or beverage by city folks, he added.