The first Bhutanese instant noodles have finally arrived in the market last week.
KP Noodles, manufactured by KP Foods in Chengmari, Samtse, has come up with noodles of three flavours – Hot Garlic Chicken, Spicy Chicken and Oriental Veg. The products have so far been distributed only in Thimphu, after which there are plans to distribute those to other regions soon.
Company’s Managing DirectorAmardeepChhetri and his partner told Business Bhutan that the present production is able to cater to market in the capital only. They are planning to further enhance supply once production increases.
“We will gradually diversify our market to other regions,” Amardeep said.
Currently, the plant produces 5,000 packets of noodle a day, although it has a capacity to produce 18,000 packets a day.
However, Amardeep said that being the first product in the Bhutanese market, they want to assess the demand in the market. “If the demand increases, we will increase our production,’’ he said, adding that the agents in Thimphu have started giving repeat orders within a week.
According to Amardeep, people mostly preferred the Oriental Veg and Hot Garlic Chickenandtheir demands have increased. Spicy Chickenis mostly preferred by the older age group. All three products are sold at Nu 25 per packet.
The company has plans to add more varieties to his products in the future and come up with two more flavours.
Meanwhile, KP Foods is the first major project funded by Rural Enterprise Development Corporation Limited (REDCL) in 2017. The fund was released in December 2016. REDCL has committed Nu 6.8mn for the project under Revolving Fund I.
It took six months for the company to set up the plant and start production. The company also plans to extend its market outside the country. “But the company will first cater to the Bhutanese market. Then we will explore the possibility to export outside,’Amardeep said.
Krishna Ghalley from Phuentsholing
