Diwali demand boosts store despite rising prices

Jethaji Odedra said he had stopped buying from certain wholesalers to avoid Diwali price hikes

An Indian sweet-mart owner says the rising cost of ingredients through inflation has made his business tougher but not stopped his plans to expand in Coventry.

Jethaji Odedra opened Rangolee Sweet Centre on Foleshill Road three years ago and said, despite those financial challenges, his business has managed to stay a success.

His shop makes traditional Gujarati sweets and snacks all year round but he said demand was bigger during festive periods like Diwali, which falls on Monday this year.

The cost of ingredients like cooking oil and dried fruit and nuts have increased year on year but, in the lead up to the festival of lights, Mr Odedra said he found prices also went up due to demand.

"Every year prices are increasing by 10 to 15 percent so we have to plan in advance because, near Diwali, they put the price up of every single product," he said.

"So we had to buy [our ingredients] a couple of months ago in advance."

In order to keep costs low, he said he had stopped buying from wholesalers as he saw their prices tended to fluctuate from month to month and went instead directly to the suppliers to buy large pallets of ingredients.

Demand for the store's Gujarati sweets and snacks was high in the run up to Diwali, Mr Odedra said

Mr Odedra said changing the way he got supplies was one reason why his Coventry store had remained successful in the face of his costs rising.

He now plans to open another shop and restaurant and is looking for new premises in the city.

Regular customer Naeem Paratha, from Foleshill, welcomed the idea of Rangolee in those plans having an area where people can sit and eat.

"It's good, very good. That is much better," he said.

"There will be a bit of competition because there's others that have seating facilities, so even [Rangolee] should have the seating facilities. It's really good idea."

Mr Odedra's search includes looking for such space for seating for the new branch, based on a similar concept at his St Saviours Road store in Leicester.

"When we started three years back, it was quite good for us. Now we need bigger space," he said.

"In the Coventry shop at the moment, there is no seating there. We're looking for somewhere that has seating for at least about 50 to 60 people plus the shop."