Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation
 Supplyco Peoples Bazaar in Thiruvananthapuram | |
| Abbreviation | Supplyco |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1974 |
| Type | Governmental organisation |
| Headquarters | Kochi, India[1] |
Chairman [1] | G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, I. A. S[1] |
Managing Director[1] | A.T. James, I. A. S[1] |
Parent organisation | Food and Civil Supplies Department, Government of Kerala |
Staff | more than 4500 |
| Website |
supplycokerala |
The Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited, abbreviated as and known better by its brand name Supplyco, is a Govt. of Kerala owned company headquartered at Kochi, India. It acts as the execution arm of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies of the Government of Kerala.[2] Founded in 1974,[3] the company serves the purpose of governmental intervention in the retail market to control prices of essential commodities.[4]
The corporation runs a chain of retail supermarkets under the brand name Supplyco, and a chain of retail outlets under the name Maveli Stores.
The Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation better Known as Supplyco is the gateway for the 30 million people of the State of Kerala, assuring the much needed food security in a substantive style by supplying life's essentials and reaching out to the rural-poor and the urban-rich alike. Incorporated in 1974 as a fully owned Government Company with an authorised capital of 15 crores, to meet the limited objectives of regulating the market price of essential commodities at reasonable prices, the growth of Supplyco for nearly three decades was tremendous and unbelievable compared to any of the similar organisations in the country. Headquartered in Kochi and operating through 5 Regional offices, 14 district depots, 56 taluk depots and around 1500 retail outlets, it has a dedicated work force of more than 4500 to fulfill the task.
Market Intervention
The motto behind the incorporation of Supplyco was to regulate the rise in prices of essential commodities in the open market. Under the Government programme of market intervention, pulses and spices are purchased and sold to the consumers at subsidised prices fixed by the Government. The Government of Kerala aids this operation by giving grants every year. The task has been fulfilled through the network of Maveli Stores, which was started to commemorate the saga of Mahabali, legendary king of Kerala. Now the Maveli Stores has become a prominent name among the consumers in the state. Supplyco operates through Maveli Stores and Mobile Maveli Stores throughout the state covering almost all the panchayaths. Quality products and subsidised pricing are the twin advantages, which Supplyco extend to the consumer. Supplyco has also undertaken distribution of pulses and spices and other branded products of Civil Supplies Corporation at subsidised prices, through the network of 2000 selected ration shops.
Succumbing to the overwhelming public demand, Supplyco expanded its horizon of activities into other vital areas of consumer interest by starting Super Markets, Petrol Bunks, LPG outlets and Medical Stores.
Supplyco also markets its own branded FMCG products like tea, coffee, milled wheat products, curry powders , iodised salt, bottled drinking water, rice products, coconut oil, spices etc under the brand name SABARI .
Festival Markets
During festival seasons like Onam, X'mas and Ramzan, when the price of essential commodities and vegetables are highly volatile, Supplyco with its objective of price stabilisation and preventing shortages, organises Festival Markets at important cities and other centers; and this has become a big festival attraction to the people of Kerala, over the years.
Mid-day Meal Programme
Under the Mid-Day meal programme of the Government, Supplyco is distributing food items to 2.34 million school children and this is one of Supplyco's major operations.
Other operations
Supplyco is the sole distributor of levy sugar to the authorised ration dealers in the State.
It runs 95 medical outlets in the state,which offers average 15% discount on all medicines,more over 25% additional discount for BPL families.
Supplyco procures paddy directly from farmers at Minimum Support Price(MSP) declared by Government of Kerala.The procured paddy is handed over to contracted rice mills of Supplyco for milling.The resultant rice is distributed through the Public Distribution System in the state.