Vendors in Mangaluru are seeing a surge in demand for cold beverages and ice creams due to the ongoing heatwave and hot weather conditions. Despite the usual pickup in sales occurring only after April, vendors are already experiencing brisk business. Salman and Shaheed, who run a milk booth, are selling a variety of juices, with buttermilk being the most popular summer drink, followed by lassi. The sales are expected to increase further from April when schools and colleges close for vacation and when more functions are organized.
Radhakrishna, a sugarcane juice vendor, has reported better sales than in the previous two years due to the high demand for sugarcane juice. Along with cool drinks, demand for tender coconut and fruits such as watermelon and oranges is also high. The sales of locally produced aerated drinks, however, have been adversely affected due to the hike in GST rates. Overall, vendors are taking advantage of the demand by offering a range of refreshing drinks and desserts.
Credit: Kevin Mendonsa
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