The Hindu Business Line : Marmalade, Chennai's latest deli

THE next time you have a craving for Tiramisu, the place to head for is Marmalade, Chennai's latest delicatessen. Housed in a lovely old house on Khader Nawaz Khan Road off Nungambakkam High Road, the new deli caters to foodies of all ages.

The deli, positioned as a family store, stocks a large variety of cheeses, desserts, cold cuts and meats besides bread and a range of pastries. Marmalade will also have a salad bar and a barbeque soon.

Mr V. Manu Reddy, Executive Director, Food Alliance, which owns Marmalade, said the company has tied up with Keells of Sri Lanka for the meats. The cheese and cold cuts — like turkey and honey-coated hams — will come from a supplier in Delhi, he said.

The old bungalow set against a background of trees and bamboos will be part of the Marmalade brand. The investment into the deli was between Rs 8 and Rs 10 lakh, he said. The advertising is mainly through hoarding and will be handled by the Chennai-based Fountainhead.

The Food Alliance's bakery brand, Upper Crust, will be changed to Marmalade also, Mr Reddy said. The company plans to expand through the franchisee mode, he said. After the Chennai outlets are in place, Hyderabad will be next on the line. Cascade was the first of Food Alliance's four restaurant formats. What started as a stand-alone Oriental restaurant is now being replicated in three star hotel chains in South India. The first of these has been in Quality Inn Sabari in Chennai. The company also has plans to take this format to other metros.

Mr Reddy said the company brought the food court concept, with Red E, to Chennai and now will be introducing the food court into other cities, especially Hyderabad.

The company's portfolio also included Lotus Pond, an Indian speciality restaurant and the Red E Drop Zones, the home delivery arm.

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