First ‘Chicken Fresh’ counter opens in Odisha capital

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 25:

Odisha State Poultry Products Co-operative Marketing Federation Limited (OPOLFED) has launched ‘Chicken Fresh’, a new initiative to provide quality poultry products at prices lower than the market rates to the people of the twin city of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack.

The first ‘Chicken Fresh’ counter was inaugurated at Sahid Nagar here by State Agriculture Minister Pradeep Kumar Maharathy on Sunday.

Consumers will be able to buy processed chicken free from blood tinges from the counters. What is more; they can also order pieces as per their preference: leg piece, chicken breast and so on.

The stores will also offer different varieties of chicken like broiler birds, country birds, Vanraj and Rainbow rooster etc along with white and brown eggs at prices lower than the market price.

The market price of broiler chicken was Rs 120 per kilogram at the Chicken Fresh outlet on Monday as against the market price of Rs 150 to Rs 180. The price of Vanraj chicken was at Rs 350 per kilogram and its local variety sold at Rs 380 as against the market price of Rs 450 to Rs 500 a kilo. While an egg sells for Rs 5 in the market, it is priced at Rs 3.25 at the Chicken Fresh outlet.

Similarly, the price of a dozen eggs is Rs 46 at the Chicken Fresh outlets against the market price of Rs 54. The new outlet also sells low cholesterol Vanraj and brown eggs that are not easily available in the market. A packet of six Vanraj eggs sells for Rs 25 at Chicken Fresh.

The state-run agency has established a semi-automatic chicken processing unit with a capacity of 2,000 broiler birds per day so that consumers can get processed chicken immediately.

“Once we get more land, we can open at least five Chicken Fresh outlets in Bhubaneswar. Similar outlets will also be opened in Cuttack,” said Minister Maharathy.

“With an increase in the production, the supplies will be linked to poultry co-operative societies,” said Fisheries and animal resources development department secretary Bishnupada Sethi.

OPOLFED is also mulling taking up online orders from the consumers and offering home delivery services. It is also in talks with Venky’s India to provide ready-t- eat chicken products to the consumers at an affordable price.

“There is also a plan to make Chicken Fresh online within a month’s time. Customers can place orders online to have things delivered at their doorstep within the municipal corporation area. Like other e-commerce organisations, we may supply it without any charge within 1 or 2 km. However, those placing orders from beyond the specified distance might have to pay a small amount for delivery,” Sethi added.

It may be noted that earlier, in a similar move, the State Government had started ‘Chilka Fresh’ to serve hygienic fish products from Chilka to the consumers of Bhubaneswar.