Tasting Success: Success Story of Cafeshree

While discussing about the micro enterprises of Kudumbashree, the first image that would come to the mind of any Malayali would be about the Kudumbashree cafes and canteens which cater fresh, clean, tasty homely food to many. As many Kudumbashree canteens and cafes are functioning all across Kerala stretching from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. The Cafeshree located at Chavakkad Municipality is one such enterprise that had been serving the people of Chavakkad with mouthwatering food items.

Evolution of Cafeshree

Cafeshree, situated at the building of Chavakkad Municipality Complex during August 2015. Now, it had turned into one of the famous restaurants in the locality which offers hygienic and tasty food.  The members of Cafeshree were selected from various neighborhood groups (NHGs) functioning under Chavakkad CDS.  The Cafeshree started functioning after the 15-day training extended by Kudumbashree Mission.

Kudumbashree Mission had given them a financial assistance of Rs 15 lakhs. They had also secured a bank loan of Rs 10 lakhs from Canara Bank. It was using that money that fund that the enterprise was launched. As per the Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana implemented by Central Government, they had got Rs 3 lakhs as subsidy.

Cafeshree had attracted the public by its cleanliness and modern technologies. Tasty vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is prepared at Cafeshree giving importance to hygiene. Cafeshree isn’t using any preservatives while cooking food.

The Cafeshree team comprises of 13 people. Smt. Mini Sunil is the President and Smt. Udayalakshmi Babu is the Secretary of the unit. Every member is earning around of Rs. 10,000- Rs. 12,000 a month. The Cafeshree functions from 6 AM to 7.30 PM every day. Also, in order to promote the products of Kudumbashree Micro Enterprise units, the Cafeshree unit members buy the raw materials like papad, vegetables etc. from Kudumbashree women.

The unity and understanding among their group members is the major strength behind the success of Cafeshree. They are doing catering services and do prepare festival dishes during Ramzan, Christmas and other festival seasons to attract more customers and gain additional income through that.

Initially they were 15 members and later few members left the group due to some personal reasons. Out of the few members left, one among them was a lady who belonged to a very poor economic background. She was very much sincere and passionate towards her work. They took the initiative to find out the groom for her and also performed all the duties of a sister for her marriage. They met all the expenses of her marriage including the purchase of ornaments, dress, catering services etc from their own profit. Even now, they consider it as the happiest moment in their life.

Cafeshree team had proved that with sheer confidence in oneself anyone can achieve in win their dreams. Cafeshree has become a role model for the budding café and canteen units with their systematic mode of working.