Ths refers to your ‘enticingly served’ cover story on Food Tech Start-Ups titled: “All Fall Down” (BT 6th December 2015)–an apt line borrowed from the concluding part of a popular nursery rhyme: ‘Ringa Ringa Roses’ !
‘The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach’ says an old adage and a popular belief. Perhaps all these start-ups used this as a strategy and pandered to the palates of the people to make profits from their juicy ventures! However, it is equally true that ‘ too many cooks spoil the broth’. Darwin’s old theory of ’survival of the fittest’ once again applies to this sector and shows how such rosy ventures cannot survive under such tough competitive forces.
The basic premise behind sprouting of so many players in the field of such start-ups is that households with extra pay-packets now try to experiment with enticing “outside food” compared to the boring or humble ‘ghar ka khana’ concept prevalent earlier!
Investors of crores of dollars riding on this once hot industry are soon bound to singe their hands as plummeting profitability may lead them to oblivion if they do not take immediate corrective action!
The last line of the cover story (‘ Perhaps many more would drink to a happier Diwali next year’) seems to be a day dream looking to the present scenario and in fact next Diwali may well spell a ‘diwaala’ or ‘bankruptcy’ for such ventures. Can we hope for a fairy tale ending: ’and they lived happily ever after’ ? Lets wait and watch.
Perhaps such a drastic picture may compel the people to switch back to the once popular theme of a song of one bollywood movie which said: ‘Daal Roti Khao, Prabhu Ke Goon Gaao’(eat simple homely food and sing the praises of God). Zomato, Foodpanda, Tiny Owl–are you listening?
This is what has been published in BUSINESS TODAY OF 3RD Jan 2016 (With SBI CEO on the cover)
Rosy Ventures Can’t Survive
This refers to your story on food tech start-ups (All Fall Down Dec 6). There is a saying that “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”. And these start-ups have probably pandered to the palates of the people to make profits from their juicy ventures. Once again Darwin’s old theory “Survival of the Fittest” applies to this sector and shows how such rosy ventures cannot survive under competitive forces. The basic premise behind sprouting of so many players in the field of start-ups is that households with extra pay-packets now try to experiment with “outside food” compared to the ‘ghar ka khana’ concept prevalent earlier. Going through the present scenario, the last line of the story—Perhaps many more would drink to a happier Diwali next year–seems to be a day dream.
The bizarre picture may compel people to switch back to the once popular theme: Daal roti khao, prabhu ke goon gaao (eat homely food and sing the praises of God). Zomato, Foodpanda, Tiny Owl–are you listening?
J S Broca, New Delhi
21st December 2015
This is what has been published in BUSINESS TODAY OF 3RD Jan 2016 (With SBI CEO on the cover)
Rosy Ventures Can’t Survive
This refers to your story on food tech start-ups (All Fall Down Dec 6). There is a saying that “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”. And these start-ups have probably pandered to the palates of the people to make profits from their juicy ventures. Once again Darwin’s old theory “Survival of the Fittest” applies to this sector and shows how such rosy ventures cannot survive under competitive forces. The basic premise behind sprouting of so many players in the field of start-ups is that households with extra pay-packets now try to experiment with “outside food” compared to the ‘ghar ka khana’ concept prevalent earlier. Going through the present scenario, the last line of the story—Perhaps many more would drink to a happier Diwali next year–seems to be a day dream.
The bizarre picture may compel people to switch back to the once popular theme: Daal roti khao, prabhu ke goon gaao (eat homely food and sing the praises of God). Zomato, Foodpanda, Tiny Owl–are you listening?
J S Broca, New Delhi
21st December 2015