Sweet-meat dealers make hay

VADODARA, Oct 19: The spirits may run low and pockets feel empty, but not quite effective in distilling the sugary flavour of the festiva...

VADODARA, Oct 19: The spirits may run low and pockets feel empty, but not quite effective in distilling the sugary flavour of the festival of lights. That recession left a bitter taste in many a mouth this season seems the only plausible reason for the crowds thronging at the sweetmeat shops in the city. And though the sales may not meet expectations, the show goes on with gusto.

It8217;s a little after noon on Monday and the century-old Dhuliram Pendawala at Raopura flashes the Penda Nathi board even as customers queue up in endless rows outside its modest premises. 8220;Don8217;t go by the crowd, business is slack this year,8221; insists proprietor Vishwajit Sharma. But there is no stopping the buzzing customers.

Amazing as it may seem, while sweetmeat dealers across the city introduce fancy items on their list with every passing season, Dhuliram sticks to its mawa-peda-barfi routine and yet figures as one of the busiest sweet corners here. The items range from anywhere between Rs 90 to Rs 110 per kg, strictly mawa-based. 8220;We have customers from all sections of society and all walks of life,8221; says Sharma, adding that Dhuliram too intends to add-on its selection list in the next couple of years.

Shreyas Shah of Ambassador Sweets near Raopura Head Post Office firmly negates the dearth of customers. 8220;We stopped taking bulk orders almost a week ago. Look at the crowd inside; we just about manage to cater to their regular orders during Diwali to be able to offer bulk delivery now,8221; he says, adding that he had felt no drop in sales.

Malai Barfi, Dryfruit Halwa and Kaju Katri figure among Ambassador8217;s hot-selling items with prices ranging from Rs 120 to Rs 360 per kg. 8220;We have introduced an assortment of fancy cashew-based sweets. Surprisingly, both the traditional favourites as well as the innovative varieties are equally in demand this year,8221; says Shah.

Meanwhile, in the affluent corners of Alkapuri, demanding customers kept salesmen on their toes. Amidst screaming orders to his salesmen and doling out change, Kaushik Upadhyay of Payal Sweets says that business had been brisk from the past three days though the shop had seen less crowd than last year. 8220;But the dryfruit-based sweets, especially those made of cashew, are selling despite being priced as high as Rs 400 per kg,8221; he says.

While Upadhyay8217;s counter was stacked with pre-arranged gift packs of half-a-kg and above, customers preferred to keep their options open, mixing and matching sweets of their choice. 8220;Bulk bookings have been minimal and though the varieties are many, people are largely buying the traditional favourites,8221; says Upadhyay.

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At Muffins, Express Hotel, the sweets virtually reflect the Diwali flavour. Multi-hued cashew-based goodies shaped like crackers and fruits priced up to Rs 370 per kg beckon the eye and the palate. 8220;The assortments are getting popular,8221; says the shop manager, adding that Kaju Katri figured on the top list of the traditional sales. 8220;We had a slow start but business is picking up from the last two days. We expect good sales for at least the coming four days,8221; says the manager.