Thousands of shops across Tamil Nadu began a boycott of Pepsi and Coke from Wednesday morning in a move to boost local manufacturers that may cost the soft-drink majors Rs 1,400 crore in losses.
The state’s largest trade body – the Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangam that comprises 6,000 small and medium enterprises and 1.5 million members – told HT the boycott was on in all small shops and retail stores across the state.
Bigger supermarkets and restaurants, about 5,000 in number, sought more time but Sangam representatives said they had scheduled a meeting in the evening.
“Their initial response is encouraging. They only want some time to work out the boycott plan. I am hopeful that in the evening we will have them also commit a date,” said AM Vikrama Raja, president of the Sangam.
The boycott decision was first mooted at the massive protests that rocked the state last month and forced politicians to legalise the popular bull-taming sport of Jallikattu.
“The decision was taken to wean away the youth from MNC soft drinks that have killed domestic companies. These foreign companies are also using up scarce water resources,” alleged K Mohan, secretary of the Sangam.
This should not be allowed in Tamil Nadu at a time when the state was facing unprecedented drought, Mohan added. Moreover, he said, the Indian soft drink brands were cheaper as also healthier. There are fresh juices that even doctors recommend, the trader’s body office bearer told Hindustan Times.
The trader’s body has its own list of complaints against the cola majors, which included arm-twisting ordinary shopkeepers, who allegedly found it difficult to comply with the diktats.
“Many shopkeepers do not earn enough even to pay for electricity used to keep the drinks chilled,” Mohan said, reflecting the sentiments of several shop owners.
The trade body said the energetic response of the youth during the Jallikattu protests emboldened them to take on the soft-drink majors.” We have now to see how effective the boycott. It is not a call for ban, it is more like an appeal,” Mohan said.
Indira Nooyi, the chief operating officer of Pepsico that manufactures Pepsi, was born in Chennai.
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Source: HindustanTimes